IT'S OFFICIAL: After 738 Days of Hell, All 20 Living Hostages Are Back on Israeli Soil

Israel today welcomed home all of its remaining living hostages after they endured 738 days in the hands of the Hamas terror group. The return, which unfolded in two main waves, saw families finally embrace their loved ones, bringing an end to the agonizing waiting period that began with the October 7th massacre.

The first group of seven hostages, including Eitan Mor, Gali and Ziv Berman, Matan Engrest, Omri Miran, Guy Gilboa-Dalal, and Alon Ohel, were transferred to IDF custody early in the morning. After a preliminary medical assessment and highly emotional first reunions with family members at the Re'im reception point, they boarded Air Force helicopters and began to arrive at various hospitals for specialized care. Eitan Mor's mother, Efrat, after seeing a video of her son, described him as looking "thin and pale but smiling," calling the day a "second birthday."

The second group of thirteen hostages arrived later, making their way to the reception point to meet family members who had been desperately waiting. This group included Rom Breslavsky, Ariel Cunio, Maxim Harkin, David Cunio, Eitan Horn, Segev Kalphon, Bar Kupershtein, Matan Tsangauker, Nimrod Cohen, Yosef Chaim Ohana, Avinatan Or, Evyatar David, and Elkana Bohbot. The families of these released captives had been informed and were being constantly updated by IDF personnel while waiting at the hospitals.

In a dramatic twist to the day's events, American President Donald Trump arrived in Israel for a brief but historic visit. Trump landed at Ben Gurion Airport and proceeded directly to the Knesset, where he was greeted by Speaker Amir Ohana and was set to deliver a speech. Upon his arrival, Trump told reporters that he was "happy the hostages were released" and definitively stated that the "war ended."

Despite earlier reports from Egypt suggesting Prime Minister Netanyahu would attend a regional summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, the Prime Minister’s Office later clarified that Netanyahu would not travel due to the imminent start of the Jewish holiday. Prior to the announcement, Netanyahu met with Trump in his Knesset office.

While the focus remains on the safe return of the living, the return of the bodies of the murdered hostages, accompanied by a military ceremony inside the Gaza Strip, is also anticipated later today.

The day's events mark a major diplomatic and humanitarian achievement, underscored by the simultaneous announcement of initial preparations for a historic visit by the president of Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim country, raising the possibility of a normalization process.