Tel Aviv [Israel], October 14 (HBTV): After more than two years of waiting, hoping, and grieving, Israel on Monday welcomed home the last of the 20 living hostages who had been held captive in Gaza since the brutal attacks of October 7, 2023.
The long-awaited return took place as part of a ceasefire deal reached earlier this week, with US President Donald Trump playing a central role in the agreement.
According to the Press Service of Israel (TPS), each of the 20 captives carries a story of survival, loss, and endurance. Their release closes a harrowing chapter of fear and uncertainty while opening a new one of healing and remembrance.
Matan Angrest, 22, was serving at the Nahal Oz military base when he was dragged from his tank during the attack. A video of his abduction, released by his family last year, drew national attention. His mother, Anat, said she shared it out of fear that her son had been forgotten.
Gali and Ziv Berman, 28, twin brothers from the Kfar Aza kibbutz, were taken together. Their older brother, Liran, once said that whatever the outcome, their family would bear the scars forever: ‘Even if my brothers are released, it will leave lifelong scars.’
Elkana Bohbot, 36, was captured at the Nova music festival. Though he had the chance to flee, he chose to stay and help the wounded. In May, he appeared in a propaganda video in a visibly deteriorated condition, pleading to see his wife and child again.
Rom Braslavski, 21, also taken from Nova, was working as a security guard and was said to have saved others before being abducted. He later appeared in a propaganda video, visibly distressed.
Nimrod Cohen, 20, a corporal in the Israeli army, was guarding near the Nirim kibbutz when his unit was overrun. His father described this week’s ceasefire announcement as the moment their family had been praying for.
Ariel and Davi Cunio, 28 and 38, were kidnapped from the Nir Oz kibbutz. Ariel’s girlfriend, Davi’s wife, and their twin daughters were released in earlier exchanges. Their father, Luis Cunio, wrote of the ‘unknown’ their family had endured, particularly the pain of the young children who kept asking why their fathers had not returned.
Evyatar David, 24, was taken from Nova. A video released in August showed him claiming he had gone days without food or water, sparking outrage and fears about his treatment in captivity.
Guy Gilboa-Dalal, 24, was abducted while dancing with his brother, Gal, at Nova. Gal said the family had lived in constant pain: ‘Thinking about him all day, every day.’
Maxim Herkin, 37, a Russian-Israeli dual citizen born in the Donbas region of Ukraine, had not planned to attend Nova but went at the last minute. A father and sole breadwinner, he became one of the festival’s many victims.
Eitan Horn, 38, was taken along with his brother Iair from Nir Oz. Iair, released in February, said he had put his own recovery on hold to focus on securing Eitan’s freedom.
Segev Kalfon, 27, was taken while trying to flee Nova. He was on the phone with his family when militants reached his car. Diagnosed with severe anxiety before the attack, his family had expressed grave concerns for his mental health.
Bar Kupperstein, 23, a bouncer at Nova, stayed behind to help the wounded. His aunt told reporters that the family had held onto the hope that he was alive and surviving.
Omri Miran, 48, was kidnapped from his home in Nahal Oz after militants forced a neighbour to trick the family into opening their safe room. His wife recounted how she held back their terrified daughter as Omri was taken away.
Eitan Mor, 25, a security guard at Nova, was seen helping others to safety before being captured.
Yosef-Haim Ohana, 25, was aiding the wounded at Nova when he was taken. In February, his family said they had received a ‘clear sign’ he was alive.
Alon Ohel, 24, also abducted at Nova, was remembered by his mother for his love of music. In August, she wrote that she believed he would one day play the piano again—‘from Beethoven to Elton John to his own songs.’
Avinatan Or, 32, was taken along with his girlfriend, Noa Argamani, who was released earlier. She described him as a man of quiet strength—‘always present, even when silent.’
Matan Zangauker, 25, was taken from Nir Oz alongside his partner, who was released in 2023. His mother recently wrote of her yearning to finally hold him again after nearly two years of imagining that moment.
Each hostage who walked free on Monday carries a story of trauma, sacrifice, and resilience, reflecting the extraordinary endurance of families who never stopped believing. For the 28 who did not return alive, Israel mourns in silence—of lives cut short, of birthdays missed, and of children growing up without their parents.
(ANI)