Gaza hostages reunite with households after two years

[ad_1] Watch: Emotional reunions as freed hostages return to Israel

Matan Zangauker, 25, walks grinning into his mom's arms.

"You are my life," she exclaims, hugging him tightly in footage filmed by the Israeli army. "My life. My hero. Come, come."

Matan was one in all 20 dwelling hostages remaining in Gaza after being taken through the Hamas-led assaults of seven October 2023, who have been freed on Monday after two years in captivity.

His mom, Einav, has campaigned fiercely for Matan's return. She turned among the many best-known faces of the motion, and demanded the Israeli authorities agree a hostage change with Hamas.

Final week, she and her daughter lit fireworks in Hostages Sq. in Tel Aviv to have a good time the ceasefire deal that had been agreed between Israel and Hamas as a part of Donald Trump's peace plan.

On Monday, crowds gathered and cheered in the identical sq. as they watched footage on huge screens of Matan and the opposite 19 freed hostages returning to Israel and reuniting with their households.

Individuals waved the Israeli and US flags and held up photographs of the hostages and indicators saying "they're coming residence".

Matan was taken along with his associate Ilana Gritzewsky from Nir Oz, however Ilana was launched throughout a ceasefire the next month.

In December 2024, Hamas launched a video displaying Matan in captivity through which he stated he and his fellow hostages have been affected by pores and skin illnesses and shortages of meals, water and medication.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/c103/live/fd00aa00-a84e-11f0-92db-77261a15b9d2.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/c103/live/fd00aa00-a84e-11f0-92db-77261a15b9d2.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/c103/live/fd00aa00-a84e-11f0-92db-77261a15b9d2.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/c103/live/fd00aa00-a84e-11f0-92db-77261a15b9d2.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/c103/live/fd00aa00-a84e-11f0-92db-77261a15b9d2.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/c103/live/fd00aa00-a84e-11f0-92db-77261a15b9d2.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/c103/live/fd00aa00-a84e-11f0-92db-77261a15b9d2.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/c103/live/fd00aa00-a84e-11f0-92db-77261a15b9d2.jpg.webp" loading="eager" alt="Israel Defense Forces Released Israeli hostage, Matan Zanguaker, holds his mother's waist, while she holds his neck and face with her hands. They are smiling at each other and are both wearing cream-coloured clothes." class="sc-5340b511-0 bGQwLJ"/> Israel Protection Forces Launched Israeli hostage, Matan Zanguaker, greets his mom in a video clip shared by the IDF

In a video name with Matan on Monday shortly after his launch, Einav instructed him: "Thank God, the conflict is over. The conflict is over."

In a later assertion, the household stated that "after two years of hell, at present we start a brand new chapter of our lives - one in all therapeutic and rehabilitation".

That sentiment was shared by a number of of the households who have been reunited with their family members.

The household of Eitan Horn, who was additionally taken from Nir Oz, and whose brother Yair was launched throughout a ceasefire in February, stated they'd have "hugs and many love and we'll accompany him by way of all the restoration course of".

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/4ee3/live/36dea8d0-a84f-11f0-a6a1-7df40e0558bb.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/4ee3/live/36dea8d0-a84f-11f0-a6a1-7df40e0558bb.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/4ee3/live/36dea8d0-a84f-11f0-a6a1-7df40e0558bb.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/4ee3/live/36dea8d0-a84f-11f0-a6a1-7df40e0558bb.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/4ee3/live/36dea8d0-a84f-11f0-a6a1-7df40e0558bb.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/4ee3/live/36dea8d0-a84f-11f0-a6a1-7df40e0558bb.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/4ee3/live/36dea8d0-a84f-11f0-a6a1-7df40e0558bb.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/4ee3/live/36dea8d0-a84f-11f0-a6a1-7df40e0558bb.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Reuters Relatives of Israeli hostage Eitan Horn, wearing red t-shirts with a picture of him that says "home now!", sit on a sofa and clasp their hands together as they watch a screen. They look hopeful and emotional" class="sc-5340b511-0 bGQwLJ"/> Reuters Family of Israeli hostage Eitan Horn pictured as they awaited his launch

Family of 24-year-old Evyatar David, who was taken from the Nova music pageant and was seen emaciated in a tunnel in a video printed by Hamas in August, stated they at all times "knew he would return".

"After two years of struggling, he's right here. Now a brand new journey of therapeutic will start for Evyatar and us," they stated in an announcement.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/8044/live/843f7780-a84f-11f0-8d61-63cf71b23051.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/8044/live/843f7780-a84f-11f0-8d61-63cf71b23051.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/8044/live/843f7780-a84f-11f0-8d61-63cf71b23051.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/8044/live/843f7780-a84f-11f0-8d61-63cf71b23051.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/8044/live/843f7780-a84f-11f0-8d61-63cf71b23051.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/8044/live/843f7780-a84f-11f0-8d61-63cf71b23051.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/8044/live/843f7780-a84f-11f0-8d61-63cf71b23051.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/8044/live/843f7780-a84f-11f0-8d61-63cf71b23051.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Reuters Released hostage Evyatar David holds his fists to his mouth as he smiles and looks out the door of a helicopter. Next to him is a woman, also grinning" class="sc-5340b511-0 bGQwLJ"/> Reuters Launched hostage Evyatar David grins as he arrives at a medical centre within the outskirts of Tel Aviv

The dwelling hostages have been collected from assembly factors in Gaza by the Worldwide Committee of the Pink Cross (ICRC), which has acted as a impartial middleman within the handovers.

They have been then reunited with family members at reception factors close to the Gaza border, earlier than being airlifted to hospitals to start the method of bodily and psychological remedy.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/aa9b/live/b2fd68c0-a84f-11f0-8d61-63cf71b23051.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/aa9b/live/b2fd68c0-a84f-11f0-8d61-63cf71b23051.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/aa9b/live/b2fd68c0-a84f-11f0-8d61-63cf71b23051.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/aa9b/live/b2fd68c0-a84f-11f0-8d61-63cf71b23051.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/aa9b/live/b2fd68c0-a84f-11f0-8d61-63cf71b23051.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/aa9b/live/b2fd68c0-a84f-11f0-8d61-63cf71b23051.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/aa9b/live/b2fd68c0-a84f-11f0-8d61-63cf71b23051.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/aa9b/live/b2fd68c0-a84f-11f0-8d61-63cf71b23051.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Reuters A military helicopter is on a helipad on a roof of a building. Next to it are military officials and a group of people waving and holding their arms in their air. One of them is holding a flag" class="sc-5340b511-0 bGQwLJ"/> Reuters Matan stands along with his mom and waves as he arrives at a medical centre in Tel Aviv by helicopter

There have been celebrations throughout Israel because the 20 hostages returned. Individuals waved on the sky and cheered after they have been flown overhead in army helicopters on their strategy to hospitals.

Inbar Goldstein, whose personal kin have been launched within the November 2023 ceasefire, instructed the BBC she was feeling "completely happy and grateful".

"I do know that unhappy days are nonetheless forward however I wish to separate between what I do know and what I really feel," she stated.

Elsewhere within the sq., teenager Yarden instructed the BBC: "We're right here for the hostages, their launch and to have a good time them. At the moment all Israelis are collectively - it is not about left or proper, it is about all being collectively to have a good time the hostages."

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/0d7a/live/1d98d250-a850-11f0-8d61-63cf71b23051.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/0d7a/live/1d98d250-a850-11f0-8d61-63cf71b23051.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/0d7a/live/1d98d250-a850-11f0-8d61-63cf71b23051.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/0d7a/live/1d98d250-a850-11f0-8d61-63cf71b23051.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/0d7a/live/1d98d250-a850-11f0-8d61-63cf71b23051.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/0d7a/live/1d98d250-a850-11f0-8d61-63cf71b23051.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/0d7a/live/1d98d250-a850-11f0-8d61-63cf71b23051.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/0d7a/live/1d98d250-a850-11f0-8d61-63cf71b23051.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="EPA Israelis stand in a crowd and grin as they celebrate the release of hostages held by Hamas as they watch from a screen at Hostage Square in Tel Aviv. They are holding signs and hugging each other" class="sc-5340b511-0 bGQwLJ"/> EPA Israelis celebrated in Hostage Sq. in Tel Aviv

However whereas the dwelling hostages have now been returned, many households of these killed in captivity are nonetheless ready, with Hamas saying solely 4 our bodies out of 28 could be launched on Monday. The Israeli army stated it will perform forensic checks earlier than confirming their identities and informing their households.

A duplicate of the ceasefire settlement printed by Israeli media had said that the stays of all the deceased hostages ought to be handed over by 12:00 native time (09:00 GMT) on Monday. Nonetheless, it additionally appeared to acknowledge that Hamas and different Palestinian factions might not be capable to find all of them inside that timeframe.

The deal additionally concerned the discharge of about 250 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails who had been convicted of crimes together with homicide and lethal assaults in opposition to Israelis - and about 1,700 detainees from Gaza who had been held by Israel with out cost.