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Welcome home! Watch the scene as Israeli hostages reunite with loved ones

October 13, 2025 | | Print Article

Hostages held captive for more than two years by Hamas experienced heartwarming homecomings as President Donald Trump declared the “historic dawn of a new Middle East.”

A prolonged nightmare came to an end for nearly two dozen families Monday when, after nearly 740 days, 20 surviving hostages of the Oct. 7, 2023, terror attack on Israel were released. Among those experiencing the joy of reuniting, the Jerusalem Post shared the moment that 25-year-old Matan Zangauker was able to speak with his mother and girlfriend for the first time since Hamas’ brutal attack.

“You’re coming home! You’re all coming home!” Einav Zangauker exclaimed, according to one translation, “There’s no more war.”

Behind the ecstatic mother sat Ilana Gritzewky, herself one of the hostages of Hamas who’d been released in November 2023 after 55 days. She had spoken with NBC News about the injustice that so many of the roughly 250 that had been taken were unable to experience the same freedom, “Why can I hug my mom and they can’t? Why I can talk whenever I want, and they can’t? Why should I feel that I’m free if they’re not?”

The 20 surviving hostages were released to the Red Cross in two waves, with, according to both Israel and Hamas, the first group of seven including: Matan Angrest, 22; Gali Berman, 28; Ziv Berman, 28; Guy Gilboa-Dallal, 24; Omri Miran, 48; Eitan Mor, 25; and Alon Ohel, 24.

The other 13 hostages were released hours later and, in addition to Zangauker, included: Elkana Bohboot, 36; Rom Braslavski, 21; Nimrod Cohen, 20; Ariel Cunio, 28; David Cunio, 35; Evyatar David, 24; Maxim Herkin, 37; Eitan Horn, 38; Segev Kalfon, 27; Bar Kupershtein, 23; Yosef-Chaim Ohana, 25; and Avinatan Or, 32.

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Along with the joy of the release of the living hostages, the tragic reality remains that 28 deceased hostages have yet to be returned to their families for a proper burial.

Speaking from Israel’s Knesset, President Donald Trump assured that the remains would also be released in the coming days as part of an exchange for 2,000 prisoners held by Israel as he ushered in a new day for the region.

“After two harrowing years in darkness and captivity, 20 courageous hostages are returning to the glorious embrace of their families, and it is glorious,” said the president. “28 more precious loved ones are coming home at last to rest in this sacred soil for all of time. And after so many years of unceasing war and endless danger, today, the skies are calm, the guns are silent, the sirens are still, and the sun rises on a Holy Land that is finally at peace — a land and a region that will live, God willing, in peace for all eternity.”

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“This is not only the end of a war, this is the end of an age of terror and death, and the beginning of the age of faith, and hope, and of God,” asserted Trump. “It’s the start of a grand concord and lasting harmony for Israel and all the nations of what will soon be a truly magnificent region. I believe that so strongly. This is the historic dawn of a new Middle East.”

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Kevin Haggerty
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