Israel readies to embrace final Gaza hostage return
The exact timing for releasing Palestinian prisoners remains uncertain, as both sides coordinate delicate final steps toward peace.
**Israel Prepares to Welcome Last Living Hostages from Gaza as Ceasefire Offers Hope Amid Grief**Cairo: On a tense yet hopeful Monday morning, Israelis prepared to welcome home the last 20 living hostages from the war-torn Gaza Strip — a moment both of relief and mourning. The homecoming, part of a delicate exchange deal under a breakthrough ceasefire, comes after two long years of devastating war that have scarred both Israelis and Palestinians.
Crowds began to gather before dawn in Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, where large screens were set up to broadcast the long-awaited release. People held candles, photos, and yellow ribbons — symbols of hope that have come to define Israel’s collective longing for the captives’ safe return. For many, this moment marks the closing of one of the darkest chapters in Israel’s modern history.
At the same time, across the border, Palestinians awaited the release of hundreds of prisoners held in Israeli jails — many of them detained for years under security charges. Families in the West Bank and Gaza waited anxiously for the lists of names to be confirmed, torn between cautious optimism and fear of last-minute delays.
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump, along with other world leaders, was en route to the region to discuss the U.S.-proposed peace deal and postwar reconstruction plans. Humanitarian convoys were also expected to roll into famine-stricken Gaza, where nearly half a million people have been left homeless and thousands remain in desperate need of food, medicine, and shelter.
**‘Living hostages expected first’**Israeli TV stations aired special overnight broadcasts, with anchors describing the “emotional dawn” that awaited the nation. In Tel Aviv, volunteers placed flowers and flags along the roads leading to hospitals where the freed hostages would undergo medical checks and reunite with their families.
“The country hasn’t slept,” said Yael Regev, whose cousin was among those still missing. “We’ve waited for this moment every single day. It feels like we can finally breathe — but it’s also bittersweet. So many won’t be coming home alive.”
The hostages’ ordeal began with the October 2023 Hamas attack, which stunned Israel and plunged the region into war. For two years, families have lived with unbearable uncertainty — marking each passing day on calendars, holding vigils, and refusing to let the world forget.
Israeli newscasts kept track of the number of days in captivity, and citizens across the country wore yellow pins and ribbons in solidarity. Tens of thousands joined weekly demonstrations outside the Knesset and the Prime Minister’s residence, demanding action from their government.
**Political storm amid peace**The hostage issue became a central pressure point for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who faced growing criticism for what many perceived as a slow or politically calculated response. Protesters accused him of prolonging negotiations for personal or political advantage, while he blamed Hamas for “deliberate obstruction and cruelty.”
After months of international diplomacy and mounting global criticism of Israel’s military actions, the two sides — under U.S. and Egyptian mediation — finally reached the ceasefire agreement. It was hailed as a fragile but crucial step toward ending one of the deadliest wars in the region’s history.
**Deep divisions persist**Even amid the fragile optimism, the exchange underscored the deep divisions that continue to define the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. For Israel, the freed Palestinians are largely viewed as terrorists responsible for deadly attacks or security threats. For Palestinians, however, they are freedom fighters, imprisoned for resisting decades of occupation.
In Ramallah, families of prisoners prepared quietly, aware that public celebrations could invite Israeli retaliation. “We were told not to gather in the streets or wave flags,” said a relative of one prisoner, speaking on condition of anonymity. “But in our hearts, we are celebrating — we’ve waited too long for this moment.”
Israeli officials confirmed that security forces have been placed on high alert across the West Bank to prevent mass demonstrations or potential clashes following the prisoners’ release.
**Hope in the midst of ruin**Back in Gaza, scenes of destruction stretch as far as the eye can see — collapsed buildings, tents lined up along dusty roads, and families still searching for missing loved ones. The ceasefire, while fragile, has given residents their first glimpse of hope in years.
Aid agencies have already begun preparing convoys loaded with food, medical supplies, and clean water, hoping to reach areas that have been cut off for months. “People are exhausted and hungry,” said a UN official in Rafah. “They’ve lost homes, schools, everything. What they need most right now is stability — and a chance to rebuild.”
For many Israelis and Palestinians alike, this moment — marked by both joy and sorrow — represents the faint beginning of healing. “We know peace won’t come overnight,” said an Israeli mother waiting near Hostages Square. “But maybe, just maybe, this is where it starts.”
As daybreak approached, anticipation hung thick in the air — the world watching, holding its breath, as the first freed hostages prepared to step back onto Israeli soil, bringing a fragile yet powerful symbol of hope to a region long defined by pain.