Gaza City, 13 October 2025 – Hamas has released the names of 20 living Israeli hostages expected to be handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross in the coming hours, a pivotal development in the U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement that seeks to end more than two years of devastating conflict in Gaza. The hostages, abducted during the Hamas-led attacks on 7 October 2023, are poised to return to Israel as part of the multi-phase deal negotiated under the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump.
The announcement comes amid heightened anticipation, with Israeli families gathering at military bases and public squares, awaiting the reunions that have been longed for since the captives were taken. President Trump, who has declared the Gaza war “over,” is en route to Israel to oversee the process and attend a regional peace summit in Egypt, where further steps towards reconstruction and stability will be discussed.
The list of hostages, published by Hamas’s military wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, includes a mix of civilians and soldiers captured during the cross-border incursion that ignited the prolonged war. The names are as follows:
- Bar Abraham Kupershtein
- Evyatar David
- Yosef-Chaim Ohana
- Segev Kalfon
- Avinatan Or
- Elkana Bohbot
- Maxim Herkin
- Nimrod Cohen
- Matan Zangauker
- David Cunio
- Eitan Horn
- Matan Angrest
- Eitan Abraham Mor
- Gali Birman
- Ziv Birman
- Omri Miran
- Alon Ohel
- Guy Gilboa-Dalal
- Rom Braslavski
- Ariel Cunio
Among the group are notable figures such as the Berman twins, Gali and Ziv, kidnapped together from Kfar Aza, and Alon Ohel, a talented pianist whose family campaigned tirelessly for his release by placing pianos in public spaces across Israel with messages of solidarity. Also included are young soldiers like Matan Angrest and Nimrod Cohen, seized during fierce battles on the border.
The ceasefire, which took effect late last week following Israeli cabinet approval on 9 October, has already seen Israeli forces withdraw from key positions in Gaza, allowing displaced Palestinians to begin returning to their homes in the north. Aid convoys are mobilising to deliver essential supplies, with international organisations preparing to “flood” the enclave with food, medicine, and reconstruction materials as per the agreement’s terms.
In exchange for the hostages, Israel is set to release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, including those serving long sentences. The deal, mediated by Qatar, Egypt, Turkey, and the U.S., includes oversight by a multinational force, though U.S. troops will not enter Gaza itself.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed that the government has endorsed the framework for releasing all hostages, both living and deceased, emphasising that the process will proceed in phases. However, the absence of some names from the list, such as Tamir Nimrodi, has brought heartbreak to families who now face confirmation of their loved ones’ deaths.
As the handover approaches, Israeli helicopters and medical teams are on standby at bases like Re’im, ready to transport the returnees for evaluations and family reunions. The international community, including leaders from France, Germany, and the UK, has welcomed the progress, pledging support for Gaza’s rebuilding and a lasting two-state solution.
While optimism prevails, challenges remain, including verifying the hostages’ conditions after prolonged captivity and ensuring the ceasefire holds amid regional tensions. President Trump, speaking before departing for the Middle East, expressed confidence in the deal’s success, stating, “This is the plan. We can deliver it.”
The release marks a hopeful turning point after a conflict that has claimed over 67,000 Palestinian lives and left Gaza in ruins, according to health officials in the enclave. As families on both sides await closure, the world watches to see if this agreement can pave the way for enduring peace.
