FIRST PICTURES: 7 Israeli hostages are back home at last

Alon Ohel, a 24-year-old musician from Lavon in northern Israel, has been released by Hamas after more than two years in captivity. Ohel was among the first seven hostages freed today as part of the U.S.-brokered ceasefire deal, marking the end of 737 days since his abduction on October 7, 2023.

Ohel, a talented pianist with plans to study jazz in Tel Aviv, was kidnapped from the Nova music festival near the Gaza border. He was hiding in a shelter amid the chaos when Hamas militants dragged him away, as captured in video footage that emerged in June 2025. Ohel holds dual Israeli-German citizenship.During his ordeal, Hamas released a propaganda video of Ohel on September 23, 2025, just before Rosh Hashanah.

In the footage, he appeared thin and mentioned losing vision in his right eye, while delivering a scripted message blaming Israeli leadership for the hostages' plight.

Today, Ohel was handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross in Gaza, along with Gali and Ziv Berman, Matan Angrest, Omri Miran, Eitan Mor, and Guy Gilboa-Dalal. Large crowds gathered at the Ohel family home in Lavon to watch the live feed of his release, erupting in celebration as he crossed into Israel for medical evaluations and family reunions.This release is part of a larger agreement freeing the remaining 20 living hostages in phases, in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.

Gali Berman, a 28-year-old from Kibbutz Kfar Aza, has been released by Hamas after 738 days in captivity. Abducted alongside his twin brother Ziv from their home during the October 7, 2023 attacks, Gali was among the first seven hostages freed today as part of the U.S.-brokered ceasefire deal. The brothers, known for their love of soccer and travel, were handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross in Gaza before being transferred to Israel for medical evaluations and emotional family reunions. In February 2025, their family received signs of life confirming they were alive.