# Hostages Reunite with Families as Leaders Sign Gaza Ceasefire Deal 🕊️

In a dramatic turn of events, all **20 living Israeli hostages** held in Gaza have been released and reunited with their families, following a landmark ceasefire agreement between **Israel and Hamas**. The emotional reunions mark a major breakthrough in the two-year conflict that has devastated the Gaza Strip. ([AP News][1])

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🔑 Key Details of the Ceasefire & Exchange

* The ceasefire reached today includes a prisoner exchange: **Israel freed over 1,900 Palestinian detainees**, while Hamas released the last 20 surviving hostages. ([AP News][1])

* In addition, Hamas handed over the remains of several deceased hostages, with plans to transfer more in line with the terms of the agreement. ([People.com][2])

* The ceasefire was negotiated under high-level mediation involving the United States, Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey. ([AP News][3])

* Hamas also made public these developments with a show of strength, deploying fighters in parts of Gaza even as the truce took effect. ([Reuters][4])

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😢 Emotional Reunions & Mixed Sentiments

Scenes of tearful embraces and relief flooded **Hostages Square** in Tel Aviv, where thousands had gathered in hope. ([The Guardian][5]) Many families described this day as the realization of long years of anguish, while others grieved over loved ones who did not survive. ([People.com][2])

One parent, long active in public campaigns for the hostages, expressed his feeling that it was “one of the most beautiful days of my life.” ([Omni][6])

Still, not all stories conclude happily. Many of the released hostages require immediate medical attention and psychological support after years of captivity under harsh conditions. ([AP News][1])

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🛡️ Strategic & Political Implications

* Israeli Prime Minister **Benjamin Netanyahu** declared his commitment to peace while insisting that Israel will continue to press for Hamas’s **disarmament** and accountability. ([The Washington Post][7])

* For Hamas, the release is a symbolic victory but also a test of its ability to maintain authority in Gaza amid demands for governance changes. ([Reuters][4])

* Internationally, U.S. President **Donald Trump** was deeply involved; he arrived in Israel, addressed the Knesset, and is now co-chairing a summit in Egypt on Gaza’s future. ([AP News][1])

* Key challenges remain: ensuring the ceasefire holds, managing reconstruction, and deciding the political future of Gaza under new oversight. ([AP News][3])

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