Hamas Releases โ20 Israeli Hostages After 738 Days inโ Captivity
JERUSALEM – โHamas released 20 Israeli hostages held in Gaza on October 13, 2025, ending 738โค days of captivity following a complex negotiation facilitated by international mediators. The releaseโ marks a significant advancement inโ theโ ongoing โconflict between Israel and Hamas, offering a measure of reliefโ to families who have endured nearly two years of uncertainty and anguish.
The hostages,comprising women,children,and elderly individuals,were transported across the border into Israel and instantlyโฃ received medical evaluations. their return follows the October 7, 2023,โ hamas-led attack on southern Israel,โ which triggered the current conflict and โresulted in the abduction of 251โ people. This release โคleaves a remaining, undisclosed number of hostages still in Hamas custody, as well as the โฃbodies ofโฃ those who โdiedโ during their captivity. The exchange underscores the immense humanโ cost of the conflict โand the protracted efforts required to secure the freedom of those held โagainst theirโค will.
The war began when Hamas-led militantsโ launched a surprise attack on southern Israel, killing approximately 1,200 โpeople, the majority of whom were โcivilians. Along โwith โฃthe deaths,251 individuals were taken hostage โคduring the โinitial assault.
Lishay Miran-Lavi was among those reunited with family on Sunday, embracing her husband, โOmriโข Miran, after more than two years apart. The emotional reunion, captured by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), symbolizes the hope for other familiesโ still awaiting theโค return of their loved ones.
Negotiations leading โto the release involved Qatar, Egypt, and the โคUnited States, with each party playing a crucial role in bridging the โgap between Israel and Hamas. Details of the agreement remain confidential, but reports indicateโ concessions were โคmade โby both sides to facilitate the exchange.
The release of the โฃ20 โฃhostages does not signal an end to the conflict. Israeli officials have vowed to continueโค military operations in Gazaโ aimed at dismantling Hamas’ infrastructure and preventing future attacks. However,the return of the hostages isโค expected toโ influence ongoing diplomaticโข efforts to achieve a lasting ceasefire and address the underlyingโข causes of the conflict.