20 Freed, Dozens Remembered: Israel Marks the End of 738 Days of Captivity

The 20 surviving hostages were released “after 738 agonizing days in captivity,” the Hostages and Missing Families Forum said in a statement.

 ‎More than two years after the brutal Hamas attack that ignited the Israel-Hamas war, every living hostage has finally been brought home to Israel from Gaza.

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‎According to a statement from the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, the 20 surviving captives were freed “after 738 agonizing days in captivity.”

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‎Under the first phase of a U.S.-mediated peace agreement, Hamas has also committed to returning the remains of over two dozen hostages who tragically lost their lives during the ordeal.

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‎“Our struggle is not over. It will not end until the last hostage is located and returned for proper burial,” the hostage advocacy group said. “This is our moral obligation. Only then will the people of Israel be whole.”

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Image By NBC News / Hostage Name: Alon Ohel.

Alon Ohel, 24, loves music and began 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 Oct. 7 along with Eliya Cohen, Or Levy and the late Hersh Goldberg-Polin.

Ariel Cunio / Hostages and Missing Families Forum

Ariel Cunio, 28, worked as a software tester and shared a passion for astronomy with his partner, Arbel Yehud, who grew up alongside him in Kibbutz Nir Oz. The two were abducted together, though Yehud was freed in January during an earlier cease-fire agreement. Ariel’s brother, David Cunio, was also taken on October 7 and released this Monday.

David Cunio

David Cunio, 35, the older brother of Ariel, worked as an electrical technician. On October 7, he spent five tense hours holding the safe room door shut as attackers tried to break in. He was later abducted along with his wife, Sharon Cunio, and their two daughters. Sharon and the girls were freed after 52 days in captivity.

Avinatan Or

Avinatan Or, 32, was born and raised in Shiloh before moving to Tel Aviv, where he worked for Nvidia. He was kidnapped from the Nova music festival along with his girlfriend, Noa Argamani, who was rescued in a military operation in June 2024.

Bar Kupershtein.

Bar Kupershtein, 23, served as a staff member at the Nova music festival and worked as a combat medic. During the October 7 attack, he stayed behind to treat the wounded before being taken hostage himself. After a 2019 accident left his father, Tal Kupershtein, paralyzed and unable to speak, Bar had stepped up to support his family. Since his son’s abduction, Tal has undergone speech therapy and regained some ability to speak—driven by his determination to help bring Bar home.

Eitan Avraham Mor.

Eitan Avraham Mor, 25, worked at a Jerusalem coffee shop and served on the security team at the Nova music festival. Witnesses said he helped evacuate the wounded during the October 7 attack before being taken hostage. He is the eldest of seven siblings.

Eitan Horn.

Eitan Horn, 39, moved to Israel from Argentina as a teenager and built a career in education. On October 7, while visiting his brother Yair Horn in Kibbutz Nir Oz, both were abducted from his home. The brothers were held together until Yair’s release in February.

Elkana Bohbot

Elkana Bohbot, 36, was one of the organizers of the Nova music festival and was helping evacuate the wounded when he was taken hostage. In May, his family voiced concern for his health after Hamas released a video showing him in captivity. Before his release on Monday, he reassured his family in a phone call, saying, “Everything is fine, relax,” as they cheered on the other end.

Evyatar David.

Evyatar David, 24, was abducted from the Nova music festival along with his friend Guy Gilboa-Dalal, who was also released Monday. His brother, Ilay David, described him to NBC News as a “brilliant guitar player” with the “kindest soul I know.” Video of an emaciated David drew an international outcry when it was released by Hamas during the summer.

Gali Berman

Ziv Berman

Gali and Ziv Berman, 28, are twins and avid soccer fans who worked together in kibbutz Kfar Aza, where they grew up. They were kidnapped from the kibbutz along with their friend Emily Damari, who was released in January.

Guy Gilboa-Dalal.

Guy Gilboa-Dalal, 24, appeared alongside Alon Ohel in a video released last month by Hamas. A lifelong admirer of Japanese culture and anime, he even studied the language. Outside that passion, he loved music and attended the Nova festival, where he was kidnapped with his friend Evyatar David. His brother, Gal Gilboa-Dalal, was also at the festival but managed to escape.

Maksym Harkin.

Maksym Harkin, 37, immigrated to Israel from Ukraine with his family and is the son of a single mother who calls him the family’s anchor. Though he rarely went to parties, he joined friends at the Nova music festival—two of whom were killed during the attack—before being taken hostage to Gaza.

Matan Angrest

Matan Angrest, 22, an Israel Defense Forces soldier, was kidnapped from his tank while defending the Nahal Oz base. Earlier this year, his family released video of his capture in an effort to draw attention to his case amid concerns about his health.

Matan Zangauker.

Matan Zangauker, 25, was kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz alongside his girlfriend, Ilana Gritzewsky. She was released during the first cease-fire in November 2023 and has since been actively campaigning for his freedom.

Nimrod Cohen.

Nimrod Cohen, 21, an IDF soldier, was abducted while defending kibbutz Nirim. The three other soldiers in his tank crew were killed. Cohen is known to love solving Rubik’s cubes, and after his abduction his burned Rubik’s cube was found in the tank.

Omri Miran.

Omri Miran, 47, a shiatsu therapist and gardener, was kidnapped from the safe room of his home in kibbutz Nahal Oz in front of his wife, Lishay Miran, and two young daughters, one of whom was only 6 months old at the time.

Rom Braslavski.

Rom Braslavski, 21, from Jerusalem, worked as a security guard at the Nova music festival. In a video released in August by Palestinian Islamic Jihad, he appeared frail and exhausted. Former hostage Sasha Troufanov, who was held with him before being freed in February, said, “The faith and strength I saw in his eyes back then have been replaced by sadness, depression, and helplessness.”

Segev Kalfon.

Segev Kalfon, 27, was abducted while trying to flee the attack on the Nova music festival. According to The Jerusalem Post, his family only learned he was still alive in February.

Yosef-Chaim Ohana.

Yosef-Chaim Ohana, 25, was taken hostage while attempting to escape the attack on the Nova music festival with a friend. In May, he appeared in a video released by Hamas alongside fellow hostage Elkana Bohbot.

Who are the 20 hostages who were released by Hamas?

The identities of the 20 surviving hostages were published by advocacy groups and news outlets after their release; names include Alon Ohel, Ariel Cunio, David Cunio, Bar Kupershtein and others reported by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum and major media. Official lists are available from those sources.

When were the 20 surviving hostages released?

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum said the 20 surviving hostages were released after 738 days in captivity; the release was announced in a statement following a mediated agreement.

How long were the hostages held captive?

According to the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, the 20 surviving hostages were held for 738 days before their release.

Which group held the hostages?

Multiple reports name Hamas as the group that held these hostages in Gaza following the October 7 attacks.

Was the release part of an agreement?

Yes. The release took place under a phased, U.S.-mediated agreement that included provisions for prisoner exchanges and the return of remains in later phases.

Did the agreement include returning remains of deceased hostages?

Under the first phase of the mediated deal, Hamas committed to returning the remains of more than two dozen hostages who died, according to the statements issued with the release.

Who announced the release?

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum issued a statement confirming the release of the 20 surviving hostages.

How have families reacted to the release?

Families expressed relief and gratitude, while also stressing that their struggle continues until every missing person is found and returned.

Were any of the released hostages injured or ill?

Media reports and family statements indicated concerns about the health of several hostages; details vary case by case and medical evaluations were expected after return.

Which countries or actors mediated the deal?

U.S. officials were reported as mediators in the agreement; other regional and international intermediaries also played roles in negotiations and logistics.