Israel says the last 20 surviving hostages have returned home on Monday after two years in captivity in Gaza, as US President Donald Trump received a standing ovation from Israeli lawmakers after brokering a ceasefire with Hamas.
Trump’s lightning visit to Israel came ahead of a summit in the Egyptian resort town of Sharm El-Sheikh co-chaired by the American president, who has declared the war in Gaza over.
In Tel Aviv, a huge crowd which gathered to support hostage families erupted in joy, tears and song as news broke of the first hostage releases, though the pain for the loss of those who had not survived was palpable.
Under the ceasefire deal, Israel is due to release nearly 2,000 prisoners held in its jails.
In the Palestinian city of Ramallah, huge crowds gathered to welcome home the first buses carrying prisoners, with some chanting “Allahu akbar”, or God is the greatest, in celebration.
“Welcome home,” Israel’s foreign ministry said in a series of posts on X, hailing the return of the hostages. On Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square, Noga shared her pain and joy.
“I’m torn between emotion and sadness for those who won’t be coming back,” she said.
Israel has said it does not expect all of the dead hostages to be returned on Monday.
Under the ceasefire agreement, Hamas is also due to return the bodies of the 27 hostages who died or were killed in captivity, as well as the remains of a soldier killed in 2014 during a previous Gaza conflict.
Among those Israel was due to release in exchange are 250 security detainees, including many convicted of killing Israelis, while about 1,700 were detained by the Israeli army in Gaza during the war.
