Families of hostages held in Gaza have been eagerly awaiting any sign of life from their loved ones since they were torn from their homes on October 7, making these ceasefire negotiations and releases especially painful and difficult.

Eight hostages—three Israelis and five Thais—were freed from Hamas captivity in Gaza on Thursday, 482 days after being taken during the Oct. 7 massacre.

'At the same time, we cannot forget the young brave souls lost…You were there for her and we don’t take that for granted,' said Karina Ariev’s sister Shasha.

After 471 harrowing days in captivity, three Israeli women—Doron Steinbrecher, Romi Gonen, and Emily Damari—have finally returned home, the Israel Defense Forces confirmed late Sunday.

The IDF, in coordination with the Manpower Directorate and Medical Corps, has finalized plans to welcome abductees returning from Gaza after more than a year of brutal captivity.

The document coins a harrowing new term and describes how 'Hamas struck at the heart of the Jewish community: the family unit.'

The war with Hamas and Hezbollah has separated families for months.