Photos: Israeli, Palestinian families celebrate return of hostages, prisoners

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(NewsNation) — Families and crowds celebrated the release of hostages and prisoners Monday as Phase 1 of a ceasefire deal in Gaza went into effect.

In Israel, crowds gathered to welcome the 20 remaining living hostages, who had been held by Hamas for two years.

  • Released Israeli hostage Omri Miran embraces his wifeReleased Israeli hostage, Omri Miran, held in Gaza since the deadly Oct. 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas, embraces his wife, Lishay Miran-Lav, after being released as part of a prisoner-hostage swap and a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, in Reim, Israel, on Oct. 13, 2025. (Israel Defense Forces/Handout via REUTERS)
  • Released Israeli hostage Matan Zangauker greets his motherMatan Zangauker is reunited with his mother, Einav Zangauker, after being held in Gaza since the deadly Oct. 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas, as part of a prisoner-hostage swap and a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, in Reim, Israel, on Oct. 13, 2025. (Israel Defense Forces/Handout via REUTERS)
  • Released Israeli hostage Omri Miran and his wifeOmri Miran, held in Gaza since the deadly Oct. 7, 2023 attack by Hamas, is reunited with his wife, Lishay Miran-Lav, on Oct. 13, 2025. (Israel Defense Forces/Handout via REUTERS)
  • Releasede Israeli hostage Maksym Harkin embraces a loved oneMaksym Harkin, held in Gaza since the deadly Oct. 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas, embraces a loved one after being released on Oct. 13, 2025. (Israel Defense Forces/Handout via REUTERS)
  • Released Israeli hostage Yosef-Chaim Ohana and his motherYosef-Chaim Ohana, held in Gaza since the deadly Oct. 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas, kisses his mother after being released on Oct. 13, 2025. (Israel Defense Forces/Handout via REUTERS)
  • Woman celebrating release of hostagesWomen react at "Hostages Square" on on Oct. 13, 2025, the day Hamas released hostages who have been held in Gaza since the deadly Oct. 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas. (REUTERS/Shir Torem)
  • People celebrate the release of hostagesPeople wait for the arrival of hostages on Oct. 13, 2025, who were kidnapped during the deadly Oct. 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas and taken to Gaza. (REUTERS/Stoyan Nenov)
  • Family membes of hostages wait for releaseMacabit and Nir watch the release of their nephews, twins Gali Berman and Ziv Berman, as part of a prisoner-hostage swap and a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas on Oct. 13, 2025. (Israel Defense Forces/Handout via REUTERS)
  • Famly members wait for a released hostageThe family of released Israeli hostage Eitan Abraham Mor celebrates Oct. 13, 2025. (Israel Defense Forces/Handout via REUTERS)
  • A releaed hostage waves from a vanReleased hostage Guy Gilboa-Dalal, who was kidnapped during the deadly Oct. 7, 2023, attack by Hamas and taken to Gaza, reacts upon arrival at Rabin Medical Center-Beilinson Hospital in Petah Tikva on Oct. 13, 2025. (REUTERS/Itai Ron)
  • A released hostage with family membersReleased Israeli hostage Alon Ohel is reunited with his family, after being held in Gaza since the deadly Oct. 7, 2023, attacks on Oct. 13, 2025. (Israel Defense Forces/Handout via REUTERS)
  • Released hostage and family travel in helicopterReleased Israeli hostage Alon Ohel rides in a helicopter with his family, after being held in Gaza since the deadly Oct. 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas on Oct. 13, 2025. (Courtesy of Israel Defense Forces/Handout via REUTERS)
  • A released hostsage and his familyReleased Israeli hostage Evyatar David reunites with his parents Avishai and Galia on Oct. 13, 2025. (The David family/Handout via REUTERS)
  • hostages celebrate their releaseReleased hostages arrive at Sheba Medical Center in Ramat Gan, Israel, on Oct. 13, 2025. (REUTERS/Hannah McKay)
  • hostage Eitan Mor and his parents embracingReturned hostage Eitan Mor reunites with his parents. (Image: IDF Spokesperson Unit)
  • An image of returned hostage Eitan Mor and his fatherReturned hostage Eitan Mor reunites with his father. (Image: IDF Spokesperson Unit)

Palestinian families also gathered to welcome the more than 1,900 imprisoned and detained Palestinians released by Israel as part of the deal.

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Many of those released had been detained during Israel's military action in Gaza.

  • Freed Palestinian prisoners reunite with loved onesA freed Palestinian prisoner is greeted after being released from an Israeli jail as part of a hostages-prisoners swap and a ceasefire deal in Gaza between Hamas and Israel, in Ramallah, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, on Oct. 13, 2025. (REUTERS/Mohammed Torokman)
  • Freed Palestinian prisoners reunite with loved onesA freed Palestinian prisoner is greeted after he was released from an Israeli jail as part of a hostages-prisoners swap and a ceasefire deal in Gaza between Hamas and Israel, in Ramallah, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, on Oct. 13, 2025. (REUTERS/Ammar Awad)
  • Freed Palestinian prisoners reunite with loved onesA freed Palestinian prisoner is greeted after he was released from an Israeli jail as part of a hostages-prisoners swap and a ceasefire deal in Gaza between Hamas and Israel, in Ramallah, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, on Oct. 13, 2025. (REUTERS/Ammar Awad)
  • Freed Palestinian prisoners reunite with loved onesA freed Palestinian prisoner is carried as he is greeted by his relatives and friends after he was released from an Israeli jail as part of a hostages-prisoners swap and a ceasefire deal in Gaza between Hamas and Israel, in Ramallah, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, on Oct.13, 2025. (REUTERS/Ammar Awad)
  • Families wait for freed Palestinian prisonersFamilies wait for their relatives on the day Palestinian prisoners are released from an Israeli jail as part of a hostages-prisoners swap and ceasefire deal in Gaza between Hamas and Israel, in Ramallah, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, on Oct. 13, 2025. (REUTERS/Ammar Awad)
  • Families wait for freed Palestinian prisonersFamilies wait for their relatives on the day Palestinian prisoners are released from an Israeli jail as part of a hostages-prisoners swap and ceasefire deal in Gaza between Hamas and Israel, in Ramallah, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, on Oct. 13, 2025. (REUTERS/Ammar Awad)
  • Families wait for freed Palestinian prisonersFamilies wait for their relatives on the day Palestinian prisoners are released from an Israeli jail as part of a hostages-prisoners swap and ceasefire deal in Gaza between Hamas and Israel, in Ramallah, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, on Oct. 13, 2025. (REUTERS/Ammar Awad)
  • Crowds gather at Nasser hosptial to greet freed Palestinian prisonersPeople gather at Nasser hospital to welcome freed Palestinian prisoners released by Israel as part of a hostages-prisoners swap and a ceasefire deal between Hamas and Israel, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, on Oct. 13, 2025. (REUTERS/Ramadan Abed)
  • Freed Palestinian prisoners reunite with loved onesA freed Palestinian prisoner meets his family members after being released from an Israeli jail as part of a hostages-prisoners swap and a ceasefire deal in Gaza between Hamas and Israel, in Ramallah, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, on Oct. 13, 2025. (REUTERS/Mussa Qawasma)
  • Freed Palestinian prisoners reunite with loved onesA freed Palestinian prisoner embraces his daughter after he was released from an Israeli jail as part of a hostages-prisoners swap and a ceasefire deal in Gaza between Hamas and Israel, in Ramallah, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, on Oct. 13, 2025. (REUTERS/Ammar Awad)
  • Freed Palestinian prisoners reunite with loved onesA freed Palestinian prisoner is greeted after being released from an Israeli jail as part of a hostages-prisoners swap and a ceasefire deal in Gaza between Hamas and Israel, in Ramallah, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, on Oct. 13, 2025. (REUTERS/Mohammed Torokman)
  • People wait for freed Palestinian prisonersPeople react as freed Palestinian prisoners arrive after being released from an Israeli jail as part of a hostages-prisoners swap and a ceasefire deal in Gaza between Hamas and Israel, in Ramallah, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, on Oct. 13, 2025. (REUTERS/Mohammed Torokman)
  • Freed Palestinian prisoners reunite with loved onesA freed Palestinian is greeted by his relatives and friends after he was released from an Israeli jail as part of a hostages-prisoners swap and a ceasefire deal in Gaza between Hamas and Israel, in Ramallah, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, on Oct. 13, 2025. (REUTERS/Ammar Awad)
  • Freed Palestinian prisoners reunite with loved onesA man greets a freed Palestinian prisoner released by Israel as part of a hostages-prisoners swap and a ceasefire deal between Hamas and Israel, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, on Oct. 13, 2025. (REUTERS/Mahmoud Issa)
  • Palestinain prisoners are releasedPeople gather at Nasser hospital as they welcome freed Palestinian prisoners released by Israel as part of a hostages-prisoners swap and a ceasefire deal between Hamas and Israel, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, on Oct. 13, 2025. (REUTERS/Ramadan Abed)

Negotiations are continuing for future phases of the ceasefire deal.

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