Israel- Hamas ceasefire: Meet the seven hostages released from Gaza as Trump arrives in Israel to cement the ceasefire

In a moment that could mark the end of one of the bloodiest chapters in the Israel-Hamas conflict, seven Israeli hostages were released into the custody of the Red Cross on Monday (October 13), the first to be freed under a ceasefire deal brokered through Donald Trump’s newly revived Middle East peace initiative. The exchange, which envisions the release of 20 living hostages in return for over 1,900 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, ignited scenes of jubilation across the country as families, friends, and onlookers gathered at public screenings, including a massive one in Tel Aviv.

Hamas said it is committed to the hostage release agreement, provided that Israel abides by it

Arriving in the region on a high-stakes diplomatic mission, US President Donald Trump declared “the war is over”. The agreement, hailed as a significant breakthrough, has paused two years of relentless fighting that left tens of thousands dead and Gaza on the brink of famine.


According to Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, US President Donald Trump watched the release of the hostages on television from aboard Air Force One.

Who are the released hostages?

Attention shifts to the identities of the seven hostages and the details surrounding their release. According to CNN website, the seven hostages are:

Ziv Berman

Twin brothers Ziv and Gali Berman, kidnapped from their home in Kibbutz Kfar-Aza during the October 7 Hamas attack, were 26 at the time and have since turned 27. Their mother, Liran Berman, said in February 2025 that other released hostages confirmed the brothers were alive, though the family had no further details. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum described Ziv as a reality TV fan who enjoys coffee, backgammon, his mom’s homemade cookies, and has an “impressive collection of shoes.”

Gali Berman

Gali Berman, who was planning a trip to Australia before his abduction, is described by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum as a skilled handyman with a talent for fixing things.

Eitan Abraham Mor

Eitan Abraham Mor, a 23-year-old from Kiryat Arba, was abducted while serving as a security guard at the Supernova festival during the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack. Israeli reports say he was last seen assisting others to safety.

Matan Angrest

IDF soldier Matan Angrest, kidnapped at age 20 from Nahal Oz during the October 7 Hamas attacks, has turned 22 while in captivity. His family says he is a devoted Lionel Messi fan who dreams of attending an NBA game in the US. Before his abduction, he and his father planned to get matching lion tattoos, and his father went ahead and got his tattoo in his honor.

Omri Miran

Omri Miran, 46, was abducted when Hamas gunmen stormed his family home in Kibbutz Nahal Oz. Hamas released a video showing him alongside American-Israeli hostage Keith Siegel, who has since been freed. Miran’s wife, Lishay Lavi, and their daughters, Roni and Alma, survived the attack.

Alon Ohel

Alon Ohel, 22, was abducted from the Nova music festival during the October 7 Hamas attacks. Released hostages reported being held with him throughout their captivity. A talented pianist, Ohel plans to study jazz in Tel Aviv, and his family honored him by placing a yellow piano at Tel Aviv’s “Hostages Square.”

Guy Gilboa-Dalal

Guy Gilboa-Dalal, 22, was abducted from the Nova music festival during the October 7 Hamas attacks alongside his childhood friend, Evyatar David, 24. According to the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, he is passionate about Japanese culture, taught himself the language, and dreams of visiting the country. Hamas released a video showing Gilboa-Dalal and David watching other hostages being freed, which his brother Gal described as psychological torment.

The Israeli military confirmed that the first seven hostages released from Gaza have reached Israel. They are set to receive initial medical assessments at Re’im Field Hospital, where they will reunite with their closest family members for the first time in two years, before being moved to hospitals for full medical evaluations.

US President Donald Trump has arrived in Israel, where a large delegation of Israeli officials, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara, is waiting to welcome him at Ben Gurion Airport.