On Monday morning, the first seven hostages were released from captivity in the Gaza Strip, with 20 survivors expected to return home that same day. Some 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and those held in Israel will also be released as part of the first key phase of the US-brokered ceasefire.
An Israeli source told CNN that the Red Cross has handed over the first seven hostages to the Israeli army in Gaza. IDF hands over hostages to Israel. According to a CNN camera crew, at least six helicopters were seen arriving at the Reim base in southern Israel to prepare for the release of hostages from Gaza. After medical examination and reunion with their families, the hostages will be taken to hospitals in neighboring Tel Aviv.
One of those freed, Guy Gilboa-Dalal, was 22 years old when he was kidnapped from the Nova music festival during the October 7 attack by Hamas. He was kidnapped along with his childhood best friend, 24-year-old Evyatar David. According to the Hostages and Missing Families forum, he has a deep passion for Japanese culture, taught himself the language, and dreamed of visiting this country. In February 2025, Hamas filmed Gilboa-Dalal and David watching the release of other hostages and posted the video to Telegram. Gilboa-Dalal's brother, Gal Gilboa-Dalal, told CNN it was tantamount to psychological torture: “Forcing them to see what freedom could look like for them and then closing the door and dragging them back to hell is terrible.”
Another hostage, Alon Ohel, was just 22 years old when he was kidnapped from the Nova music festival in the October 7 attack by Hamas. Other freed hostages said they were held with Ohel throughout their captivity, the Times of Israel reported. According to Israeli press reports, Ohel is a talented pianist who plans to study jazz in Tel Aviv. His family brought a yellow piano to Tel Aviv Square, known as “Hostage Square.”
Omri Miran was kidnapped when Hamas militants raided his family's home on Kibbutz Nahal Oz; At that time he was 46 years old. In April 2024, Hamas released a video showing Miran with Israeli-American hostage Keith Siegel, who was later released. Miran's wife, Lishay Lavi, and daughters Roni and Alma survived the attack.
IDF soldier Matan Angrest was just 20 years old when he was kidnapped by rebels from Nahal Oz during a Hamas attack on October 7. While in captivity, he was 22 years old. His family said he was a big fan of soccer player Lionel Messi and dreamed of going to America to watch an NBA match. Family members said he and his father had planned to get matching lion tattoos before Matan was kidnapped, and now his father has gone and done it.
According to Israeli media, Eitan Abraham Mor, a native of Kiryat Arba, was working as a security guard at the Supernova festival when he was kidnapped in a Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. Mora, then 23 years old, was last seen leading others to safety.
Twin brothers Ziv and Gali Berman were kidnapped by gunmen from their home on Kibbutz Kfar Aza during a Hamas attack on October 7. They were 26 at the time and have since turned 27. In a February 2025 interview with CNN, their mother, Liran Berman, said other freed hostages had told the family that the brothers were alive. She said the family did not receive any information other than that the two brothers were alive and separated.
The Hostage and Families of the Missing Forum reported that Gali Berman was planning a trip to Australia before he was kidnapped and described him as highly skilled with a knack for fixing things. The “Hostage Families and Missing Persons” forum reports that Ziv Berman likes to start his day with a cup of coffee, plays backgammon, and has an “impressive shoe collection.” They said he was a reality TV fan and loved his mom's cookies.
CNN noted, Hamas said it is committed to implementing the ceasefire agreement on the condition that Israel fulfills its part of the agreement. The group confirmed that it had released 20 living hostages as part of the first phase “of implementing President Trump's plan to end the war in the Gaza Strip.”
Hamas emphasized that international mediators must ensure that Israel “complies with its obligations under the agreement and completes the implementation of all its provisions.” The statement came shortly after Hamas's military wing, the al-Qassam Brigades, handed over the first group of hostages to the Red Cross.
The crowd gathered at Hostage Square in Tel Aviv is experiencing conflicting emotions. “There's obviously a lot of excitement and jubilation. But there's also some anxiety,” said CNN reporter Clarissa Ward, who was at the scene. exhausted. So there's a sense that no one knows exactly what's going to happen or what we're going to see.”
Hundreds of people gathered outside Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, where about 2,000 former Palestinian prisoners and detainees were expected to arrive on Monday, a statement obtained by Hamas said.
US President Donald Trump watched the hostage release on television aboard Air Force One, said his spokeswoman Caroline Leavitt. Trump will soon land in Israel after a long flight from Washington.
