The Israeli hostages recently released by Hamas after being held for over two years were 20 living individuals, mostly civilians and some military personnel. These hostages were taken captive during the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, which involved the massacre of around 1,200 people and the abduction of 251 Israelis. The hostages endured harsh captivity conditions, including being kept in underground tunnels with minimal food, water, or medical care. Among the released living hostages were people like Matan Angrest, Alon Ohel, Omri Miran, Eitan Mor, Guy Gilboa-Dallal, the twin brothers Gali and Ziv Berman, and others such as Elkana Bohbot, Avinatan Or, Yosef-Haim Ohana, and Maxim Herkin. These individuals were reunited with their families and received medical treatment after their release.
In addition to the living hostages, Hamas was required to release the remains of 28 deceased hostages, though as of now, only four of these bodies have been handed over, which has been a point of contention with the families and Israeli authorities.
The hostages were part of a ceasefire deal brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump, which also included the release of nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners by Israel. This deal marked a significant step toward ending the conflict between Israel and Hamas that lasted two years.
