Ohel, who was held hostage for 738 days and was released as part of the U.S.-brokered Gaza deal on Oct. 13, 2025, thanked the IDF for eliminating his kidnapper in an Instagram story.

In effect, the divide over hostage deals is not only about what Israelis think but also about how deeply those views are tied to their sense of what is right.

Former captives Eitan Mor and Bar Kupershtein shared social media videos of themselves enjoying a vacation in Brazil after their release, underscoring their resilience and quiet strength in the aftermath of captivity.

Leah Goldin, mother of the late Hadar who was kidnapped in 2014 and whose body was only recently recovered, stated that if terrorists hadn’t been negotiated with, Oct. 7 might not have happened.

For the last two years, Hostage Coordinator Gal Hirsch has worked tirelessly to bring all hostages home, and with the return of Ran Gvili, he now reveals the ups and downs of the two-year negotiations.

Freed hostages taken during the October 7 massacre are increasingly turning to dogs to help express and work through the trauma of their captivity.

The Cunio family, whose sons Ariel and David were held for two years, thanked Israelis who faithfully attended the weekly rallies calling for their release and never gave up hope that they would return.

According to Israel Defense Forces data, 168 hostages were returned alive during the war, while 87 were recovered deceased.

Since the Oct. 7 massacre, a clock in Tel Aviv's Hostages Square counted the time since the kidnappings—until it was finally shut down after the return of Ran Gvili.

An IDF doctor describes welcoming freed Israeli hostages and the medical care each received, including immediate treatment, surgical intervention, nutritional support, and the treatment of injuries sustained during captivity.

After 505 days of captivity, two souls—separated by terror, sustained by belief, and scarred by war—found each other alive and chose a future together when survival alone once seemed impossible.

The year 2025 marked a defining chapter for Israel, which secured the return of all living hostages from Gaza, fought Iran head-on for 12 days, dominated global music and sports stages, and did it all while its economy kept booming.

The Women of Iron initiative honored 18 Israeli women for lifesaving and heroic efforts following the October 7 massacre, including bereaved mothers, a former hostage, and a border officer.

Former hostage Alon Ohel played the piano and sang at ZAKA’s 30th anniversary event, honoring the organization’s work in collecting remains for proper Jewish burials after attacks, including the Oct. 7 massacre.

The video shows six Israeli hostages—later murdered by Hamas—being forced to celebrate Hanukkah inside Gaza’s terror tunnels, where Hamas captors made them shave one another’s heads in a grotesque echo of the Holocaust.

The emotional footage shows several Israeli hostages—later murdered in captivity—lighting Hanukkah candles and singing holiday songs despite the horrors surrounding them.

'My national costume for Miss Universe carries symbols that speak to the heart of the Israeli story,' Shiraz said.

U.S. President Donald Trump met with the newly freed hostages in a symbolic moment that took them from Gaza’s tunnels to the Oval Office, underscoring their resilience and the ongoing push to free those still held.

Leiter addressed the visiting delegation of freed hostages, praising their strength and resilience in captivity.

Released hostages Keith and Aviva Siegel told the UN about a sexual assault that occurred during their captivity, detailing the horrors they and other captives endured inside Hamas tunnels in Gaza.

After 11 years of unyielding hope, the Goldin family finally welcomed home the remains of Lt. Hadar Goldin—a heart-wrenching testament to love, loss, and the unbreakable Israeli spirit that never stopped fighting to bring its son back.

Gali and Ziv Berman, twins kidnapped on October 7 and released during the ceasefire, were honored at a Maccabi Tel Aviv game, receiving custom jerseys and a standing ovation from the roaring crowd.

In a raw and emotional interview, Lishay Miran reveals the pain and joy of welcoming her husband, Omri, home from captivity—describing how, even as he 'unfreezes his identity,' their family must learn to live, love, and rebuild amid the scars of two stolen years.

Freed hostage Segev Kalfon was seen emotionally singing at his Seudat Hoda’ah—a 'meal of thanks'—thanking God for his survival in Gaza and his reunion with his family.

Israeli actor Omer Hazan spoke about how deeply inspired he was by the hostages’ return, saying they are spreading light and speaking about their closeness to God and urging others to join them.

After surviving the Nova Festival massacre, Ziv Aboud never lost hope for her kidnapped love Eliya Cohen, and months after their reunion, the two are now engaged.

Freed twins Gali and Ziv Berman grew emotional as they put on tefillin for the first time since their release from Hamas captivity, reciting 'Shema Yisrael' and dancing with attendees to 'Am Yisrael Chai.'

Special envoy Steve Witkoff and President Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner met with freed hostages in Israel, who thanked them for their tireless work in securing their release from Gaza.

At his sold-out Madison Square Garden concert, Israeli singer Omer Adam opened with a powerful tribute video honoring the IDF, freed hostages, and President Trump.

When their story reached the band, Shadows posted a video message on social media celebrating their return home.

Israel secured the release of 20 living citizens through intense military efforts and diplomatic negotiations over two years following the horrific October 7 massacre.

Avinatan Or spent all 738 days in complete isolation in Hamas tunnels, never encountering another hostage until his release.

Significant road closures are expected in central Israel and within Jerusalem during the brief visit.

Even an early morning rain shower couldn’t dampen people’s spirits. Families with children, many on Sukkot holiday break, arrived in droves.

Alongside Rabbi of the Western Wall Shmuel Rabinowitz, Herzog recited Psalms for the return of the 48 remaining hostages

This will be Rubio’s second trip to Israel this year, following his visit in February as part of a multi-country tour of the Middle East.

Trump said he convened the senior leadership team to demonstrate his full dedication to freeing all of the 48 captives still being held by Palestinian terrorists in the Gaza Strip.

Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz, who oversees the Western Wall and holy sites, led the service before the massive crowd of worshippers.

The comments came as Israel continued to deliberate over a ceasefire proposal agreed to by Hamas last week.

Stawski has been regularly posting the hostage photos throughout the park in recent days, only to see them torn down repeatedly.