More than two years after they were kidnapped during the terrorist attack that sparked the war between Israel and Hamas, all of the living hostages have been returned to Israel from the Gaza Strip.
The 20 surviving hostages were freed “after 738 agonizing days in captivity,” the Hostages and Missing Families Forum said in a statement.
As part of the first phase of the US-brokered peace deal, Hamas also agreed to return to Israel the remains of more than two dozen hostages who did not survive.
“Our fight is not over. It will not end until the last hostage is located and returned for a proper burial,” the hostage advocacy group said. “This is our moral obligation. Only then will the people of Israel be complete.”
Here are the 20 live hostages who were freed on Monday with details provided by the Missing Families Forum:
Alon Ohel24 years old, loves music and started playing the piano at the age of 9. He planned to begin his studies at Israel’s Rimon School of Music in October 2023, but was kidnapped at the Nova music festival in southern Israel on October 7 along with Eliya Cohen, Or Levy and the late Hersh Goldberg-Polin.
Ariel Cunio28 years old, he worked as a software tester and shares a love of astronomy with his partner, Arbel Yehud, who grew up with him on Kibbutz Nir Oz. He and Yehud were kidnapped together, but she was released in January under a previous ceasefire agreement. His brother David Cunio was also kidnapped on October 7 and released on Monday.
David Cunio, 35 years old, he is Ariel Cunio’s older brother and worked as an electrical technician. On October 7, he held the door to the safe room of the family home for five hours while the attackers tried to open it. His wife, Sharon Cunio, and two daughters were also kidnapped but released after 52 days in captivity.
avinatan or32, was born and raised in Shiloh before moving to Tel Aviv, where he worked for Nvidia. He was kidnapped at the Nova music festival along with his girlfriend, Noa Argamani, who was rescued in a military operation in June 2024.
Bar Kupershtein23 years old, was a staff member at the Nova music festival. As a combat medic, he was helping victims of the October 7 attack before being kidnapped. Kupershtein had taken on a larger role in his family after an accident in 2019 left his father, Tal Kupershtein, unable to move or speak. Since her son’s kidnapping, Tal Kupershtein has been receiving speech therapy and regained some speech ability to aid in the fight for his return.
Eitan Avraham Mor, The 25-year-old worked in a cafe in Jerusalem and was also part of the security team at the Nova music festival, where he is said to have helped evacuate the wounded before being kidnapped. He is the oldest of seven brothers.
Eitan Horn, 39, immigrated to Israel from Argentina as a teenager and worked in education. On October 7, Horn was visiting his brother Yair Horn at Kibbutz Nir Oz, where they were both kidnapped from their home. They were held together until Yair Horn’s release in February.
Elkana Bohbot, The 36-year-old was one of the organizers of the Nova music festival and was helping evacuate the wounded when he was kidnapped. His family expressed concern about his health in May after he appeared in a video released by Hamas. “Everything is fine, relax,” he told his cheerful family in a call before his release Monday.
David Evyatar, 24, was kidnapped at the Nova music festival along with his friend Guy Gilboa-Dalal, who was also released on Monday. His brother, Ilay David, described him to NBC News as a “brilliant guitarist” with the “kindest soul I know.” The video of an emaciated David sparked international outrage when Hamas released it over the summer.
Gali and Ziv Berman, 28 years old, they are twins and avid soccer fans who worked together at the Kfar Aza kibbutz, where they grew up. They were kidnapped from the kibbutz along with their friend Emily Damari, who was released in January.
Guy Gilboa-Dalal24, was seen with Alon Ohel in a video released last month by Hamas. From a young age, Gilboa-Dalal has admired Japanese culture and anime, even studying the language. Outside of Japanese culture, he enjoys music and attended the Nova festival, where he was kidnapped along with his friend Evyatar David. His brother Gal Gilboa-Dalal was also at the festival and survived.
Maksym Harkin37 years old, emigrated to Israel from Ukraine with his family. He is the son of a single mother who describes him as the anchor of the family. Although he doesn’t usually party, Harkin attended the Nova music festival with friends, two of whom were murdered and he was kidnapped in Gaza.
Matan’s wrath22-year-old soldier in the Israel Defense Forces was kidnapped from his tank while defending the Nahal Oz base. Earlier this year, his family released a video of his capture in an effort to draw attention to his case amid concerns about his health.
Matan Zangauker25 years old, was kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz along with his girlfriend, Ilana Gritzewsky. She was released during the first ceasefire in November 2023 and has been fighting for her release ever since.
Nimrod Cohen, 21, an IDF soldier, was kidnapped while defending Kibbutz Nirim. The other three soldiers in his tank crew were killed. Cohen is known to love solving Rubik’s cubes, and after his kidnapping, his Rubik’s cube was found burned in the tank.
Omri Miran, 47, a shiatsu therapist and gardener, was kidnapped from the safe room of his home at Kibbutz Nahal Oz in front of his wife, Lishay Miran, and their two young daughters, one of whom was only 6 months old at the time.
Read-only memory Braslavsky21 years old, is from Jerusalem and worked as a security guard at the Nova music festival. In a video released in August by Hamas-allied Palestinian Islamic Jihad, he appeared weak and thin. “The faith and strength that I saw in his eyes back then has been replaced by sadness, depression and helplessness,” said former hostage Sasha Troufanov, who was detained with Braslavski before being released in February.
Segev Kalfon27 years old, was kidnapped while trying to flee the attack on the Nova music festival. According to The Jerusalem Post, his family did not find out he was still alive until February.
Yosef Chaim Ohana25 years old, was kidnapped while trying to flee the attack on the Nova music festival with a friend. In May, she appeared in a video released by Hamas with fellow hostage Elkana Bohbot.
