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Evyatar David thought he was ‘walking directly to his grave’. Today, he walked to freedom

The Age

Australia

Monday, October 13


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Palestinian Prisoner Release and Celebrations


Israeli hostages have returned to home soil in a vital step towards peace in Gaza after two years of brutal war, with crowds erupting in joy at their freedom and families weeping at their reunion.

The hostage release was greeted with celebrations across Israel and live broadcasts around the world as US President Donald Trump landed in Tel Aviv to mark the historic moment after the ceasefire negotiated last week.

Trump is planning talks with more than 20 world leaders at a summit in Egypt after the hostage release in a bid to negotiate a lasting peace now that the opening steps in the ceasefire deal have been confirmed.

The Israeli Defence Force released this image of Gali and Ziv Berman embracing on the Gaza Strip after being released by Hamas on Monday.
The Israeli Defence Force released this image of Gali and Ziv Berman embracing on the Gaza Strip after being released by Hamas on Monday.Credit: Israeli Defence Force

The joy at return of the hostages was marked with grief over those who died in captivity as well as the deaths of 1200 Israelis when Hamas – a designated terrorist group in Australia and other countries – launched an assault on October 7, 2023.

Hamas fighters handed the hostages to Red Cross aid workers as agreed in the ceasefire terms, with the first seven crossing into Israel about three hours ahead of the deadline of noon on Monday in Israel (8pm AEST). The remaining living hostages were later released, while the bodies of the 28 hostages who have died will be retrieved by the International Red Cross.

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The moments were shown live as crowds cheered at gatherings across Israel when officials confirmed the hostages were being returned alive as expected after 736 days in captivity.

The release began with seven young Israelis, including some who had been seized at the Nova music festival or in communities in southern Israel during the October 7 attack that triggered the war.

One of the first seven hostages to emerge was Alon Ohel, a young man who was set on a career in music before he was taken by Hamas at the Nova music festival on October 7, 2023.

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