The hostages kidnapped by Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad 737 days ago in southern Israel and held captive in Gaza all this time are returning home.

An Israeli government spokesperson said the release will begin in the early hours of Monday. All 20 surviving hostages will be handed over simultaneously to the Red Cross, then transferred across the border into Israel and taken to the Reim military base.

The Hostage Families Forum announces that, starting at midnight, Hostage Square will be open to the public and will broadcast the release of the kidnapped prisoners live. "Continuous projections of their return will be shown in the square for the public who wish to be present at these historic and deeply moving moments."

Twenty of the 48 people kidnapped are still alive: Israeli authorities have established that at least 25 of the hostages were murdered on October 7, 2023, or while in captivity.

Most of the hostages were taken alive from the rave in the Be'eri forest, others from kibbutzim, and the remainder were soldiers. Among the youths kidnapped at the Nova festival is Rom Braslavski, 21, who was working as a security guard at the Nova festival on the morning of October 7, 2023. In August, Islamic Jihad released a video showing the young man appearing skeletal, sobbing and saying he could not stand due to his injuries .

Hamas also released footage of Evyatar David, 24, two months ago, showing him looking skinny as he dug a grave in a tunnel. Elkana Bohbot, 36, had gone to the party to dance. Guy Gilboa-Dalal, 24, appeared in two clips released by the Islamist group in the past year. Segev Kalfon, 27, was last seen trying to escape terrorists along the highway . Bar Kuperstein, 23, was part of Nova security, as was Eitan Mor, 25. Yosef-Haim Ohana, 25, worked as a bartender. Alon Ohel, 24, who also holds German and Serbian citizenship, was kidnapped from a bomb shelter near the roadside rave .

A talented pianist, he was injured by shrapnel in the eye, and it is feared he may be partially blinded. Avinatan Or, 32, was taken along with his girlfriend, Noa Argamani, who was rescued by Israeli forces in June 2024.

Omri Miran, 48, was taken by terrorists from Kibbutz Nahal Oz. During the attack, the terrorists held his family hostage, including his young daughters, and broadcast the footage live on Facebook. Miran and the father of the other family, Tsachi Idan, were taken to the Gaza Strip. Idan was killed. Twins Gali Berman and Ziv Berman, 28, were taken from their homes in Kibbutz Kfar Aza, on the border with Gaza.

Ariel Cunio, 28, was taken to the enclave from Kibbutz Nir Oz with his girlfriend, Arbel Yehoud. She was released in January. David Cunio, 35, Ariel's brother, was kidnapped with his wife, Sharon, and their 3-year-old twins in Nir Oz. All but David were released in November 2023. Eitan Horn, 38, originally from Kfar Saba, was visiting his brother Iair at Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7.

Matan Zangauker, 25, was also in Nir Oz. His mother led a tireless two-year battle to get her son back and against Netanyahu. Only two soldiers survived. Matan Angrest, 22, an Israeli soldier, was attacked and pulled from a tank in southern Israel on the morning of the massacre. Nimrod Cohen, 21, was also kidnapped by a tank near the Nahal Oz base where he was stationed.

According to the agreement signed in Sharm el-Sheikh, Hamas must also return the bodies of hostages taken to Gaza who were already dead or killed on the spot, but not within 72 hours as was agreed for the living. Among the deceased hostages are soldiers, a taxi driver, an ambulance driver, kibbutz residents, several of whom were elderly (75 to 86 years old), and a woman, Inbar Haiman, 27, who was killed at the festival.

(Unioneonline)

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