Unprecedented
Hamas Allows Hostages To Call Their Families | WATCH
Nothing Hamas does is good, but these families are beyond thrilled to talk to their loved ones for the first time in two years.
Hamas has allowed several of the remaining Israeli hostages to make phone calls or video chats with their families while still held in Gaza captivity, moments before their handover to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
This appears to be a new element in the release process under the U.S.-brokered ceasefire deal, with emotional footage and details emerging in real-time via media and social platforms.
Matan Zangauker, the 25-year-old from Nir Oz had a tearful video chat with his mother, Einav Zangauker, and girlfriend, Ilana Gritzewsky (released in November 2023), while still in captivity. Einav told him, "The war is over, you're coming home," marking his first contact in 738 days.
Rom Braslavski, in his first conversation with his family: In the video call, his mother, Tami, can barely contain her emotion and asks him to speak so she can hear his voice. During the call, Rom also tells her that Hamas wants to record the conversation and distribute it across all Israeli media.
Ariel and David Cunio: The brothers, abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz, were given a phone by Hamas to make a video call to their mother, Silvia Cunio. She initially missed the call from an unrecognized number but answered a second time; she could see them looking "perfectly fine" (better than expected) but heard no audio. Silvia described feeling "an abnormal amount of happiness" and is eagerly awaiting a reunion hug.
Nimrod Cohen: The 21-year-old soldier had a WhatsApp video call with his family, appearing smiling and providing their first glimpse of him in two years while still in Gaza, just before his imminent release.
Bar Kupershtein: Footage shows the hostage in an emotional phone call with his family from captivity, shared widely on social media as part of the release buildup.
Yosef Haim Ohana: He was permitted to call his family while still held, with breaking reports highlighting it as another instance of pre-handover contact.
These interactions have been described as profoundly moving, with families expressing overwhelming relief amid tears. No official explanation from Hamas on why these calls were facilitated has been reported, but they coincide with the first phase of releases (seven hostages initially handed over), as crowds gather for reunions and President Trump arrives in Israel to oversee the deal.