Hamas handed over all living hostages to Israel
13 October 13:01
The Palestinian Islamist group Hamas has released 20 Israeli hostages who have remained in captivity since the attack on the south of the Jewish state on October 7, 2023. The transfer took place in two stages with the mediation of the Red Cross. In the morning, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) reported that seven hostages had met with the military and representatives of the country’s security service in the Gaza Strip to return home. Later, photos of the released prisoners who had already arrived home were published. These are conscript Matan Angrest, twins Gali and Ziv Berman, residents of Kfar Azah Kibbutz, Omri Miran, a resident of Nahal Oz Kibbutz, as well as visitors and employees of the Nova Festival: security guard Eitan Mor, pianist Alon Ohel, Guy Gilboa-Dala, reports "Komersant Ukrainian".
Then Hamas handed over 13 more people to Israel. They are now returning home. According to the list provided by the Palestinian group, they are Bar Kuperstein, Eyatar David, Yosef-Chaim Ohana, Segev Kalfon, Avinatan Or, Elkanah Bohbot, Nimrod Cohen, Matan Zangauker, David Kunio, Eitan Horn, Rom Braslabsky, and Ariel Kunio. According to Ynet, these 20 people are the last living hostages of Hamas. The bodies of 28 dead prisoners remain in the Gaza Strip, which must also be handed over to Israel.
In the near future, 250 Palestinian prisoners will also be released from Israeli prisons and 1700 people detained in Gaza, including 22 children. The names of the prisoners were published on Friday. The list did not include seven prominent figures whom Hamas wanted to return, including Marwan Barghouti and Ahmad Saadat.
The agreement on the release of Israeli hostages was reached as part of a 20-point peace plan proposed by US President Donald Trump. The document also provides for a ceasefire and the withdrawal of the IDF from the Gaza Strip. At the same time, Israel will maintain a military presence in the border buffer zone. International “stabilization forces” formed by the United States together with Arab and other partners will be responsible for ensuring security in the Gaza Strip.
Hamas militants who are ready to lay down their arms will be granted amnesty. Those who want to leave Gaza will be provided with safe passage to host countries. The region will be governed by a provisional government of Palestinian “apolitical technocrats” under the control of a new international structure to be created by the United States with the support of Arab and European countries. According to the White House’s plan, Trump is to chair the new body.
on October 7, 2023, Hamas militants invaded southern Israel, killing more than 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages, including military personnel and civilians. In response, Israel launched strikes on the Gaza Strip, and then launched a ground operation and has now captured about 80% of the exclave.
105 hostages returned alive as a result of the first ceasefire and exchange agreement in November 2023, and another 30 during the second ceasefire in January-March 2025. Eight were also released by the IDF in the course of military operations, and five were released by Hamas without a deal.
In addition, the military returned the bodies of 50 abductees to Israel. Another eight bodies were handed over by Hamas militants as part of agreements, including the Bibas brothers: four-year-old Ariel and nine-month-old Kfir. Israel officially recognized the deaths of 75 hostages.
