Celebratory Displays and a Toast to Life: Israeli Citizens Rejoice at Agreement to Return Captives

The declaration of an agreement projected to lead to the freeing captives held in the Gaza Strip for over 24 months has caused joy and comfort throughout the nation.

A group which has campaigned for the return of Israeli hostages held in Gaza voiced “deep appreciation” for what it called a “landmark achievement”.

The agreement—which still must be agreed upon Israel’s war cabinet—will see the return of 20 hostages alive and the bodies of 28 deceased captives in return for 250 Palestinian detainees serving life sentences in Israeli prisons plus 1,700 individuals from Gaza.

So far, 148 hostages have come back—largely through earlier truce agreements—51 bodies have been retrieved while eight hostages were freed by rescue.

Celebratory Moments at Hostages Square

Jubilant scenes took place at Hostages Square located in Tel Aviv with crowds of individuals assembled ahead of the deal being signed.

The gathering began clapping and moving to music beneath US and Israeli flags—one woman holding up a placard that read: “We adore Trump.”

“It’s a magical day,” she expressed.

A different person, 50-year-old Yael, wept while observing the crowd dancing.

“I’m very excited—it’s such a relief,” she said. “We need to see them come back home to their families.”

• REAL-TIME RESPONSE: Trump announces Gaza deal
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• ANALYSIS: Major breakthrough, but war not over yet

Relatives Rejoice Using Pyrotechnics

The mom and sibling of a captive Israeli Matan Zangauker lit fireworks in celebration of the announcement of his impending returned home.

“They’re coming back!... Matan is on his way home!” Einav Zangauker said as she held her daughter.

Viki Cohen, the parent of captive Israeli Nimrod Cohen, shared online: “My son, you are returning home.”

The joy was palpable throughout the avenues of Tel Aviv after the announcement.

Freed Hostages Offer Prayers and Toasts

Ex-captive of British-Israeli origin Emily Damari celebrated with another freed hostage Romi Gonen, uttering blessings of gratitude, then cheering “To life”, meaning “for life”. She has been campaigning for the freedom of her companions, twins Gali and Ziv Berman.

Their sibling Liran Berman wrote: “My Gali and Ziv, I love you so much. You are coming back.”

The cousin of Gil Dickman Carmel Gat was taken hostage in October 2023, and her body found in a tunnel in Gaza nearly a year after. He has participated with other captives’ relatives in advocating for a deal that brings the homecoming of all those still being held within Gaza.

“I can’t quite believe this is actually happening. We’ve been waiting for so long and now it’s here,” he expressed.

He said he was “broken” that Carmel will not be among those coming back home but was “glowing with joy” for the relatives of the hostages who are finally coming back.

Eitan Horn was seized from Nir Oz kibbutz in southern Israel together with his sibling.

Cautious Optimism from Family Members

Dalia Cusnir, whose brother-in-law Eitan Horn is still held in Gaza, remarked she felt as if she were in “a dream state”.

“We’re more than grateful to President Trump and everything he has accomplished on our behalf. We feel like it might be the beginning of the end of this ordeal, and embracing Eitan seems nearer than before,” she commented.

However, she warned that it remained too soon to rejoice.

“Before the final captive returns, we’re not opening the champagne. We will continue struggling... until it’s over,” she affirmed.

“Numerous events might occur up to the final instant which is why we’re being so, so careful. We simply wish to express gratitude to all who was involved in the efforts and ensure this deal is finalized... We shall rejoice only when we have the last hostage back home.”

Eitan was taken from Nir Oz kibbutz in Israel’s south together with his sibling Iair, who was released from detainment through a truce agreement earlier in the year.

Associated Updates

• ‘Historic chance’: Global response to first stage of Gaza peace deal
• What we know about the ‘first phase’ of the Gaza accord

Israel-Gaza conflict | The nation | Hamas