The announcement by US President Donald Trump that Israel and Hamas agreed to the primary part of a deal that may see the fast launch of the remaining residing hostages held in Gaza set off a flood of emotion earlier Thursday morning amongst freed captives and households, who’ve waited two years for his or her family members’ return.
A number of the households and former captives gathered at Hostages Sq. in Tel Aviv, the place mass weekly rallies have been held to name for the hostages’ return, as they cheered the information and chanted “Nobel Prize to Trump” whereas vowing to proceed demonstrating till the slain hostages within the Gaza Strip are introduced again to Israel.
A discussion board representing most households of hostages thanked Trump and invited him to satisfy them or ship public remarks at Hostages Sq. throughout his anticipated journey to the Center East.
“Thank God, it lastly occurred! I can’t imagine it. Avia and Man [Evyatar David and Guy Gilboa Dalal, who were held with him in captivity], I’m ready for you,” former hostage Omer Wenkert wrote on Instagram.
One other freed hostage, Eliya Cohen, posted: “Inform me, is there anybody on this nation who can really breathe?” Fellow survivors Emily Damari and Romi Gonen additionally celebrated the announcement with pictures of seen aid and pleasure.
Silvia Cunio, mom of hostages David and Ariel, spoke by tears after Trump’s handle: “I dream of the hugs, the kisses. Of David hugging Sharon, Emma, and Yuli; of Ariel hugging Arbel. I thank everybody for the nice and cozy embrace these previous two years — it gave me the energy to maintain going.”
Sharon Cunio, the spouse of David, posted a photograph of the couple with their two ladies, writing: “Emma and Yulie, dad is coming residence.”
Freed captives, family members of hostages and their supporters rejoice after the announcement that Israel and Hamas have agreed to the primary part of a Gaza ceasefire plan, as they collect at Hostages Sq. in Tel Aviv, October 9, 2025. (AP/Ohad Zwigenberg)
Danny Miran, father of hostage Omri Miran, stated he was “smiling from ear to ear, however with tears of pleasure.” He added, “My two eldest granddaughters came visiting, and we danced collectively within the hallway. I’ve been ready greater than two years for this second.”
Viki Cohen, mom of hostage Nimrod Cohen, wrote on X: “My little one, you’re coming residence!”
Einav Zangauker, mom of hostage Matan Zangauker, shared an emotional message on social media, saying, “I’ve prayed for these tears.”
“Matan is coming residence to me, to [his sisters] Natalie and Shani, and to [his partner] Ilana, the love of his life,” wrote Zangauker, who has been among the many most vociferous critics of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s dealing with of the hostage disaster and warfare.
Einav Zangauker, the mom of hostage Matan Zangauker, reacts to information that Israel and Hamas have agreed to the primary part of US President Donald Trump’s plan for a Gaza deal, at Hostages Sq. in Tel Aviv, Israel, early on October 9, 2025. (Reuters TV through Reuters)
Liran Berman, whose twin brothers Gali and Ziv are nonetheless in Gaza, wrote: “My Gali and Zivi, I really like you a lot. You’re coming again residence.”
Their aunt, Maccabit Meir, informed Channel 12 information that “there isn’t any happiness like this.”
She stated, “So many individuals are so joyful” to listen to the information that the hostages are to be launched. “I can’t let you know what number of messages I’m getting,” she stated.
“It’s occurring, it’s occurring,” she repeated. “We have been so afraid, and now I’m crying tears of happiness, not tears of concern,” she stated.
Merav Gilboa-Dalal, mom of hostage Man, stated, “The principle factor is that my son ought to come again wholesome and on his personal two toes.”
“That’s what I want for all of us,” she stated.
“And the experiences that they may have afterward might be wonderful. As a result of we acquired him again once more, a present — one of the vital wonderful kids on the planet. A dream. A present.”
“Lastly, this saga, of the warfare, the injured, the lifeless, this ache of our heroic troopers who gave their souls for us [is coming to an end], and the hostages, the victory, that they’re all coming residence,” she continued. “And I hope the slain hostages will all return on the identical time, and that we are able to shut this circle.”
Hamas-held hostage Man Gilboa-Dalal speaks in a video launched by the phobia group on September 5, 2025.
The Hostages and Lacking Households Discussion board stated the households greeted the information of the captives’ upcoming launch “with pleasure, anticipation and apprehension.”
“This is a crucial and important step towards bringing everybody residence,” the discussion board stated, “however our wrestle is just not over — and won’t be over — till the final hostage returns.”
The assertion urged the Israeli authorities “to convene instantly and approve the settlement,” warning that “any delay may come at a heavy worth for the hostages and for the troopers.”
“We’re assured,” the households continued, “that the prime minister will safe an absolute majority for the implementation of the settlement reached.”
The discussion board concluded with a message that has grow to be each a plea and a promise: “We won’t relaxation and we won’t cease till the final hostage returns. We are going to carry them residence. We are going to rise once more.”
Later, the Discussion board launched an open letter thanking Trump for pushing the settlement and requesting a gathering throughout his possible upcoming journey to the area.
“You could have given us again what we thought we had misplaced without end,” it wrote. “You stored your promise, and for that our households might be without end grateful.”
The households advised Trump may ship a public handle at Hostages Sq. in Tel Aviv, the locus of their activist motion, or may meet them privately, or any gathering that matches your schedule.”
After Historic Deal Announcement, Hostages Households Invite President Trump to Meet Throughout Israel Go to
“We might be deeply honored when you would meet with us throughout your upcoming go to to Israel. This may very well be one of many biggest exhibits of help within the historical past of Israel to a… pic.twitter.com/5HO0802N9y
— Carry Them Residence Now (@bringhomenow) October 9, 2025
“We might be deeply honored when you would meet with us throughout your upcoming go to to Israel. The wives, kids, mother and father, and siblings whose lives you modified want to thanks in particular person,” the households wrote. “We merely want the chance to look you within the eye and categorical what phrases alone can not totally convey: that you just gave us again our households, and with them, our hope.”
Terror teams within the Gaza Strip are holding 48 hostages, together with 47 of the 251 kidnapped by Hamas-led terrorists on October 7, 2023. They embrace the our bodies of a minimum of 26 confirmed lifeless by the IDF. Twenty are believed to be alive and there are grave considerations for the well-being of two others, Israeli officers have stated. Among the many our bodies held by Hamas is an IDF soldier killed in Gaza in 2014.
‘Youngsters shall return to their very own borders’
In Washington, a bunch of hostage households assembly with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick thanked Trump in a cellphone name for serving to dealer the deal.
“Mr. President, we imagine in you, we all know you’ve accomplished a lot for us… and we belief you’ll fulfill the mission till each hostage, each 48 of the hostages, is residence,” one of many family members stated over speakerphone.
One other added: “God bless you, Mr. President, God bless America.”
Trump responded by saying that each one the hostages would come again on Monday, which was met with applause from the households.
Households of hostages held in Gaza converse with US President Donald Trump by speakerphone as they meet Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, October 8, 2025. (Hostage Households Discussion board)
Israeli leaders additionally hailed the announcement, with Netanyahu issuing an announcement concurrently Trump’s declaration saying, “With God’s assist, we’ll carry all of them residence.”
“An awesome day for Israel. [On Thursday] I’ll convene the federal government to approve the settlement and convey all our pricey hostages residence,” Netanyahu stated in a subsequent assertion from his workplace.
“I thank the courageous IDF troopers and all the safety forces — it’s due to their braveness and sacrifice that we have now reached at the present time,” he added.
“With God’s assist, collectively we’ll proceed to realize all our objectives and increase peace with our neighbors.”
President Isaac Herzog stated, “All of Israel stands with the hostages.”
“At this hour, all of Israel stands with the hostages. All of Israel stands with their households,” Herzog wrote in a Hebrew-language publish on X.
“They shall return from the land of the enemy… and youngsters shall return to their very own borders,” he added, quoting a verse from the biblical guide of Jeremiah.
President Isaac Herzog and his spouse, Michal, seem in Hostages Sq. in Tel Aviv as a part of a nationwide protest, August 17, 2025. (President’s Workplace)
Protection Minister Israel Katz praised Trump and Netanyahu “for the management that led to the deal,” in addition to “the heroic IDF troopers whose braveness, dedication and unbelievable sacrifice introduced us to this nice second.”
Minister Yitzhak Wasserlauf of the far-right Otzma Yehudit social gathering, which has opposed earlier ceasefire offers that didn’t embrace the return of all of the captives, additionally cheered the settlement, saying “everybody will return residence… with out anybody remaining behind.”
Opposition Chief Yair Lapid thanked Trump, saying that Israel was “ready for our kids with bated breath.”
“All our hearts are with the 48 households, hoping and praying for the discharge of everybody — the residing to the bosoms of their family members, and the lifeless for a correct burial within the soil of Israel,” Blue and White-Nationwide Unity chief Benny Gantz wrote on social media.
Businesses contributed to their report.
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