On the morning of Monday, October 13, the 20 hostages who had been held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip were returned to Israel, in a development considered historic in the context of the regional conflict. The return is part of the peace plan mediated by the President of the United States, Donald Trump.
The release took place in two stages. First, seven hostages were returned: Matan Angrest, twin brothers Gali and Ziv Berman, Guy Gilboa-Dalal, Omri Miran, Eitan Mor, and Alon Ohel.
Later, another 13 hostages were returned, including the three with Portuguese citizenship: Elkana Bohbot, Rom Braslavski, Nimrod Cohen, David and Ariel Cunio, Evyatar David, Maxim Herkin, Eitan Horn, Segev Kalfon, Bar Kupershtein, Yosef Haim Ohana, Avinatan Or, and Matan Zangauker.
THE PORTUGUESE HOSTAGES RELEASED ALIVE
-
Segev Kalfon (27) – descendant of a Sephardic family from Morocco and Tunisia;
-
Ariel Cunio (28) and David Cunio (35) – brothers, from a Sephardic family of Turkish origin.
Israel's ambassador to Portugal, Oren Rozenblat, who is currently in Israel, said in video on social media: "We are filled with great joy today over the release of the hostages in Israel".
According to records on X, the Cunio brothers spoke with their family via video call before being released.
David and Ariel Cunio spoke with their family via video call before being released. Credit: X
738 DAYS OF HELL
The announcement of their return comes a day before Simchat Torah, when, according to the Jewish calendar, it marks two years since what was considered the largest massacre suffered by Jews since the Holocaust. After reuniting with their families, the hostages will be taken to hospitals across the country, where they will begin a process of medical and psychological evaluation and follow-up, deemed essential for their rehabilitation.
The return of the bodies of 28 deceased hostages, including three Portuguese nationals, is also planned.
THE PORTUGUESE HOSTAGES WHOSE BODIES WILL BE REPATRIATED
-
Yossi Sharabi (53) – descendant of a Moroccan family, abducted from his home and killed in captivity; his brother, Eli Sharabi, was released alive a few months ago;
-
Ran Gvili (26) – from a Sephardic Egyptian family, killed during the October 7 massacre, with his body taken to Gaza;
-
Dror Or Ermoza (48) – descendant of an Ottoman Sephardic family, killed along with his wife; his body was taken to Gaza. His children and a nephew were also taken hostage but were freed in a previous agreement.
The agreement, which includes political and security measures, stipulates that Israel withdraw from the Gaza Strip and release 1,950 Palestinian prisoners, including 250 serving life sentences, in exchange for the hostages' liberation.
In a statement, the IDF said: "It's official: there are no more living Israeli hostages in Hamas captivity."
