Hamas has released 20 hostages who were abducted and held captive for 737 days.
Israelis and Palestinians prepare for eventual hostage release
A ceasefire between Hamas and Israel took place for three days ahead of the expected release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners.
WASHINGTON – Hamas has released 20 hostages held in the Gaza Strip for 737 days.
The hostages were released on Monday, October 13, as part of a US-brokered ceasefire agreement.
Seven of the freed hostages have been returned to Israel, according to the Hostage and Missing Families Forum, a volunteer group focused on the safe return of abductees in the Gaza Strip. The remaining 13 were accompanied by the Israel Defense Forces and the Israel Security Agency and will undergo initial medical tests upon their return to Israel, the agencies said in a joint statement.
Here’s what the freed hostages looked like:
–Aron Orwell 24 years old, abducted from a shelter after running away from the Nova Music Festival.
–Ariel Kuniotaken on the 28th from Kibbutz Nir Oz in southern Israel near the Gaza Strip. Younger brother of hostage David Kunio.
-Avinathan or32, was kidnapped at the Nova Music Festival.
–Bar Kupershstein23, was kidnapped while working at the Nova Music Festival.
–David Kunio35, was abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz along with his wife, twin daughters, sister-in-law, and young niece. The women and girls were released in November 2023. Brother of hostage Ariel Kunio.
– Oyton Horn38, was kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz while visiting his brother.
–Eitan MolThe 25-year-old was kidnapped while working as a security guard at the Nova Music Festival.
–Elkanah Bobot 36 years old, kidnapped from Nova Music Festival. Beaubot was one of the organizers of the festival.
–Evyatar David24 years old, was abducted from the Nova Music Festival.
– and jiv barmanboth 28 years old, twin brothers. Both men work as lighting and sound technicians and were abducted from Kibbutz Kfar Azha in southern Israel.
–Guy Gilboa Dalal24, was kidnapped at the Nova Music Festival.
–Maxim Harkin37, was abducted from the Nova Music Festival.
-Maysan Angrest A 22-year-old soldier was dragged from a tank and abducted near the Gaza border.
–the weapon woman25, was abducted from his home in Kibbutz Nir Oz along with his partner Ilana Gryczewski. She was released in November 2023 under a prior hostage release agreement. He suffered from muscular dystrophy, which made his conditions in captivity particularly dire.
–Nimrod Cohen, 20 years old, Israeli Defense Force soldier. His tank was attacked and he was kidnapped near the border between Kibbutz Nir Oz and Nirim. He was the only survivor of the four crew members.
–Omri Milan Nahal Oz, 48, was kidnapped from his home on a kibbutz.
–Rom Blaslavski21 years old, was abducted at the Nova Music Festival.
–Sergeev Calfon27 years old, was abducted at the Nova Music Festival. Before being kidnapped, he worked at his family’s bakery and studied finance.
–YOsef Chaim Ohana25, was kidnapped at the Nova Music Festival.
