Trump Hails ‘Historic Dawn of a New Middle East’ After Israeli Hostages Released

“The long and painful nightmare is finally over,” President Trump told the Israeli Knesset Monday as he expressed “profound joy” for the release of the 20 living hostages by Hamas.Mr. Trump called his Gaza peace plan a “historic dawn of a new Middle East.”One of the freed hostages told his mother, “Hi, mom. I’m free,” in a video chat. Matan Zangauker, 25, had been held for 738 days after being kidnapped in the October 7, 2023, attacks.He is among the remaining living hostages Hamas released to the Red Cross. The bodies of some of the 28 dead hostages were expected to be handed over later in the day. Hamas reportedly said it would have trouble finding the bodies of some of the dead hostages.“You’re coming home — you’re all coming home. There’s no more war,” an emotional Einav Zangauker told her son.People gather to watch a live broadcast of Israeli hostages released from Gaza at a plaza known as hostages square at Tel Aviv, Israel, October 13, 2025. AP/Oded BaliltyThe former hostages were being checked out in a military hospital in Israel. The first helicopter carrying some freed hostages left the base to take them to a hospital in central Israel, where they reunited with family members.Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked Mr. Trump in front of the Knesset when he spoke ahead of the president.Mr. Trump noted Mr. Netanyahu’s role in the cease-fire agreement.Mr. Trump was briefly interrupted by two left-wing members of the Knesset but they were quickly removed and Mr. Trump continued.Mr. Trump is set to receive Israel’s highest civilian honor.Mr. Netanyahu said Mr. Trump’s “indispensable help” brought the hostages home.“Thank you for paving a path to peace,” Mr. Netanyahu told Mr. Trump.Israel released hundreds of Palestinian prisoners as part of the exchange. Thousands of people filled Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square to watch the releases. Cheers went up as the first images of the first freed hostages were shown on the screen.Images provided by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, shows Israeli hostages, top row from left, Gali Berman, Ziv Berman, Elkana Bohbot, Rom Braslavski, Nimrod Cohen, Ariel Cunio; second row from from left, David Cunio, Evyatar David, Guy Gilboa-Dalal, Maksym Harkin, Eitan Horn, Bipin Joshi; third row from left, Segev Kalfon, Bar Kupershtein, Matan Angrest, Omri Miran, Eitan Mor, Tamir Nimrodi: bottom row from left, Yosef-Chaim Ohana, Alon Ohel, Avinatan Or, Matan Zangauker. APThe Israel military identified them as Eitan Mor, Alon Ohel, Ziv Berman, Gali Berman, Guy Gilboa-Dalal, Omri Miran, and Matan Angrest.Residents of the Kiryat Arba settlement in the West Bank cheered and hugged as Mr. Mor was confirmed to be released. He grew up in the settlement.The Israel Defense Forces released a video of the moment former hostage Eitan Mor reunited with his parents.The IDF later confirmed the other 13 living hostages were turned over to the Red Cross as Hamas holds no Israeli hostages for the first time in more than two years.The ordeal for the hostages began on October 7, 2023, as Hamas terrorists launched a surprise attack on southern Israel. At least 1,200 people died in the attack and 250 were taken hostage. More than 100 hostages were freed in earlier exchanges which led to hundreds of Palestinian prisoners being released.Mr. Netanyahu will be absent at the multinational summit at Sharm a-Skeikh, Egypt. The cancellation of the trip happened despite earlier reports that the Israeli leader was a last-minute addition to the roster of world leaders — many of them marginal to the peace making effort. As Mr. Trump landed in Israel he arranged a phone call between Mr. Netanyahu and President Abdel Fattah al Sisi, the summit’s host. At that point it was widely believed that the Israeli would travel to Egypt. The premier’s official plane, Wing of Zion, was being prepared for taking off for the short trip, according to Israeli press reports. At that point President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who was on a flight to Turkey, was reportedly angered by the news and told his crew to turn around back to Ankara. The Turkish president is seen as instrumental in pressuring Hamas to accept the 20-point Trump deal that allowed for a Gaza cease-fire and release of hostages.Mr. Netanyahu, whose coalition includes Jewish religious parties, then cited tonight’s holiday of Simchat Torah to announce he would stay home. The festival, which marks the end and beginning of Torah reading, falls on the exact anniversary of October 7, 2023, according to the Jewish calendar. In another reversal of early reporting, the foreign ministry at Jakarta denied that President Prabowo Subianto would visit Israel on Tuesday. Speculation is growing that Indonesia, which has the world’s largest Muslim population, would be the next country to join the Abraham Accords. In his speech at the United Nations last month, Mr. Subitano had some positive lines on Israel.

Trump Hails ‘Historic Dawn of a New Middle East’ After Israeli Hostages Released

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