A burst of emotion: Families of hostages and survivors of captivity rushed to respond to the president's announcement of the signing of the agreement, and some came to celebrate in Tel Aviv's square - with torches and baklava. Omer Wenkert"waiting for Guy and his father", Emily and Romy jumped for joy, survivors of captivity took pictures"kissing Trump". Einav Tsengauker:"Matan is coming home", Anat Engerst:"The heart beats like in childbirth" | All reactions and documentation
Lihia Gordon, Gal Ganot, Roi Rubinstein, Bar Zaga, Hagar Kochavi|
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The headquarters of the families of the hostages issued a statement tonight (Thursday), immediately after the historic announcement by US President Donald Trump that Hamas and Israel had agreed to the first phase of the ceasefire plan, and stated that they received the news of the signing of the agreement"with excitement, anticipation and apprehension."
Among other things, it was written that"the headquarters welcomes the signing of the agreement intended to return all the abductees home - the living for rehabilitation among their families and the fallen for a proper burial in their country. This is important and significant progress on the path to returning everyone, but our struggle is not over yet and will not end until the last abductee returns." Meanwhile, many abductee family members came to the square in Tel Aviv and celebrated Trump's announcement, and the abductee's sister Matan Tsengauker opened a bottle of champagne as a sign of celebration. The celebrations continued into the morning.
"I shed these tears." Einav Tsengaukar in the square (Photo: REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun)
Zengauker (Photo: Maya Levin / AFP)
Romi Gonen and Einav Zengauker in the Kidnapped Square (Photo: Kidnapped Families Headquarters)
They called on the government to convene and approve the agreement immediately - as early as this morning."Any delay could exact a heavy price from the hostages and the soldiers," they said."We are convinced that the prime minister will ensure an absolute majority for the implementation of the agreement that was reached." In Israel, they said that the agreement would be submitted for approval by the political-security cabinet at 3:00 PM, and about an hour later in the government plenum.
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The families of the hostages wanted to thank President Trump and his team,"for the leadership and determination that led to a historic breakthrough: an end to the war and a comprehensive agreement to return all the hostages." They made it clear that the mission was not over: "There are 48 hostages and one hostage in Hamas captivity. Our moral and national obligation is to return them all home, both living and dead. Their return is a condition for the rehabilitation and revival of Israeli society as a whole. We will not rest or be silent until the last hostage is returned."
The families of the abductees later thanked the negotiating team for their efforts to sign the agreement, as well as the security forces:"We are grateful for two years of fighting for the return of the abductees. Even in these emotional moments, we do not forget the sacrifice of thousands of bereaved families and all IDF fighters and their families. At this time, the families of the fallen abductees are following the reports and are eagerly awaiting news about the fate of their loved ones. There will be no true joy until everyone is home."
"They're coming home!"
Danny Miran, the father of the kidnapped Omri Miran, also arrived at the square, where he spoke with Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai and called on him to change the name of the Kidnappers Square to the Square of the Returnees. Miran also said that he would keep his beard, which had become a symbol, after previously declaring that when our son returns, they will shave together."I don't sleep at night. Today my granddaughters came to the room, we danced and cried," he said.
"I'm afraid to wake up and find out it's a dream." Einav Tsengauker in tears (Photo: Reuters TV via REUTERS)
Itzik Horn, the father of the kidnapped Eitan, said that"I woke up in the morning and started reading the messages. I didn't understand exactly what it was about. I turned on the TV, and that's it - I understood, I got dressed and came to the square. Now I hope that on Monday we will see Eitan and the rest of the kidnapped. Then I will be really sure that it is happening."
Anat Engerst, Matan Engerst's mother, told Ynet:"We received the news of the agreement with indescribable excitement. After almost two years in which we didn't breathe or sleep, all I asked for as a mother was one thing - to hug Matan again." According to her,"Now, as this moment approaches, my heart is pounding like in childbirth: counting breaths until we see him and hear his laughter at home.
"It's a great joy, pure and simple, the most basic - to return to being a mother who hugs her child," she described."Thank you to everyone who accompanied, supported and prayed on this long road. I hope we see Matan home very soon, and that we get to see everyone return home."
Einav Tsengauker, the mother of Matan Tsengauker, commented on Trump's announcement tonight and wrote excitedly on the social network X:"Matan is coming home." She added: "He is coming back to me, to Natalie and Shani, to Ilana, the love of his life, to you, to the country, to these tears I shed." She then said in the square: "Thank you to President Trump and everyone who helped bring my child and all the kidnapped men and women home. I am afraid to wake up and find out that this was a dream."
The brother of the kidnapped man Itzik Elgert, Danny, told Ynet that he is"very happy, but also not forgetting." According to him,"We have our feet on the ground, we will wait for everyone to arrive first. After that, we will have to do a great deal of soul-searching, because until leadership entered this process, it did not happen."
Elgert added that "I have a feeling of joy, but what we have been through in these two years - we have no reason to feel relief. Suddenly we discovered that we have a country without leadership, without leadership, without values. We do not forget, this is not something that happened and ended and we move on. Someone here needs to be held accountable for what happened, and that is what will happen."
Captivity survivor Omer Wenkert also shared his feelings: "Thank God. It finally happened. I can't believe it." He sent a message to Aviatar David and Guy Gilboa-Dalal, who were held captive with him:"Avia and Guy, I'm waiting for you." Omer Shem Tov and Eli-Ha Cohen were filmed celebrating President Trump's announcement on Instagram, and at the same time, captive survivors Emily Damari and Romy Gonen also posted a video in which they are seen jumping for joy with their friends upon hearing Trump's announcement.
The survivors of the captivity arrived later that night at the square, where torches were lit and sweets were distributed as a sign of joy. A man carrying a sign condemning the IDF leadership on October 7, calling for them to be imprisoned or executed, also arrived at the square, which drew fierce opposition from members of the families of the abductees, who confronted him there.
Tsengauker was seen holding a sign that read:"The clock continues to tick and count the seconds until all 48 return and return to our home! The joy is great and understandable, but the heart and the struggle are not over until the last of the kidnapped!!" During the celebrations, many surrounded her singing"Am Yisrael Chai" and chanted: "You are greater than life."
Captivity survivors Omer Shem Tov and Eli-He Cohen celebrate Trump's statement (Photo: According to Section 27A of the Copyright Law)
Noa Argamani shares Trump's historic tweet (Photo: Use under Section 27A of the Copyright Law)
Sharon Aloni Kunio responds to the deal (Photo: According to Section 27A of the Copyright Law)
(Photo: According to Section 27A of the Copyright Law)
Response of captivity survivor Daniela Gilboa (Photo: Use under Section 27A of the Copyright Law)
Celebrations at the Ben Ami family home (Photo: Use under Section 27A of the Copyright Law)
Mekhbet Mayer, aunt of the kidnapped twins Gali and Zivi Berman, told Ynet with excitement:"They are coming home! Gali and Zivi are coming home. I am here with my sister. There is no moment like this in the world. There is no such excitement. These cries are cries of happiness. How much we cried, how much we worried, how much we were afraid. We are counting the seconds. How will we wait until we see them? How much we cried - finally happy." Vicky Cohen, the mother of the kidnapped soldier Nimrod Cohen, wrote in X:"My child, you are coming home!".
Danny Miren said during the night:"Very good morning. I'm all smiles from ear to ear but my eyes are teary with happiness. My two oldest granddaughters came to me and we danced together in the hallway. I've been waiting for this moment for two plus years."
Silvia Cuneo, the mother of the kidnapped siblings David and Ariel, said excitedly:"I dream of the hug, the kisses. Of David hugging Sharon, Emma and Yuli. Of Ariel hugging Arbel. Thank you to everyone for the warm hugs for two years, it gave me the strength to continue." Sharon Aloni-Cuneo, David's wife, posted a story with a picture of her husband and their daughters:"Emma and Yuli, dad is coming home," she wrote excitedly.
At the Kidnapped Square (Photo: REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun)
US flags in the square (Photo: REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun)
Ribka Buhbot, the wife of the kidnapped Elkana, told Ynet:"For two years I have been fighting for my husband's life - for his return, for our home, for hope. This is the moment of a little child who will return to hug his father, a moment when my family is resurrected. A moment when an entire country chooses my husband, and all the kidnapped. A moment of the beginning of the end of the pain. Until the last of the kidnapped."
Meanwhile, President Trump shared a video on the Truth Network, which he owns, that was sent to him by family members of the kidnapped and survivors of captivity, including Lishi Lavie-Miran, the wife of the kidnapped Omri Miran, and Yotam Cohen, the brother of the kidnapped soldier Nimrod Cohen, and survivors of captivity Doron Steinbracher and Arbel Yehud."The president did it, he announced that our loved ones are coming home," the video said."We will not stop fighting until the last of the 48 kidnapped is back - those who were murdered in captivity, those who are alive. Thank you President Trump, thank you to the administration that did everything to bring them back."
The headquarters later reported that the relatives spoke by phone with President Trump, thanking him for the deal he led."Thank you, that's amazing, you did it!" they told Trump."We believe in you and know that you've done so much for us. You've accomplished the mission for the 48 hostages. May God bless you. Thank you." Trump replied: "The hostages are coming back - all of them - on Monday."
Sara Netanyahu, the wife of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, sent a message to the families of the hostages after Trump's announcement."I am writing to you with excitement, that very soon you will be able to hug your children," she wrote to them."Thank you to our heroic soldiers who risked their lives and to so many who paid the terrible price, and of course thank you to our Prime Minister who did not give up and insisted on the military and political actions that would bring this result of everyone's release. I rejoice with you and hug you on this historic day."
