There were scenes of jubilation across Israel today as the last remaining hostages were reunited with their families and friends after spending 738 days in Gaza.
Hamas has also agreed to hand over the remains of the dead as part of a Donald-Trump brokered peace deal to end the current two-year phase of the conflict.
However, while all 20 living hostages have now been returned to Israel, there is fresh anguish for the families of those killed.
While Hamas has been instructed to hand over 28 bodies as part of the peace deal, it is expected to only return four this afternoon.
It comes as the terror group previously admitted they do not know where the remains of all the dead hostages are.
It is believed that some of the remains have been lost and buried under the rubble in Gaza.
A joint multinational task force led by Israel, the US, Turkey, Qatar and Egypt is being established to locate any bodies that are not returned.
If Hamas fails to find all the remains, it risks complicating the next phase of the ceasefire deal and will only add to the pain of relatives who simply want to bury their dead.
The Israeli government’s pointman on the hostages, Gal Hirsch, said that the task force will be deployed after Israel has identified the bodies it receives.
In a message to the relatives of the hostages, he wrote: ‘We demand, expect, and work for 100 per cent effort from Hamas, with the assistance of the international force, in order to complete the mission and bring back all the fallen hostages for burial in Israel.’
CNN cited one Israeli official saying it is estimated that seven to nine bodies might not be retrieved. Meanwhile, another put the figure at between 10 and 15.
US President Donald Trump, who landed in Israel this morning, said yesterday: ‘They are getting the bodies; approximately 28 bodies.
‘Some of those bodies are being unearthed right now as we speak. It’s a tragedy.’
This morning, the living hostages were handed over by Hamas to the Red Cross before they were taken to the Re’im military base in southern Israel, where medical teams assessed them.
Omri Miran, 48, was photographed reuniting with his wife Lishay at the initial reception point in southern Israel.
He was abducted from his home in Nahal Oz on October 7, 2023.
Omri was part of the first group of Israeli hostages to be released this morning, alongside Matan Angrest, 22; twin brothers Gali and Ziv Berman, 28; Alon Ohel, 24; Eitan Mor, 25; and Guy Gilboa-Dalal, 24.
They were followed by a second group of 13 living hostages, who have also finally arrived in Israel after more than two years in captivity.
The second group to return home included: Matan Zangauker, 25; Nimrod Cohen, 21; Ariel Cunio, 28; David Cunio, 35; Evyatar David, 24; Yosef-Chaim Ohana, 25; Elkana Bohbot, 36; Avinatan Or, 32; Bar Kupershtein, 23; Segev Kalfon, 27; Rom Braslabski, 21; Eitan Horn, 38; and Maxim Herkin, 37.
Alon, Guy and Omri were flown by Israeli Air Force helicopters to hospital after an initial medical evaluation, the military said.
Trump arrived in Israel this morning, where he will soon deliver a historic speech to the Knesset before heading to Egypt for an international peace summit geared towards ending the war in Gaza.
Trump signed the Knesset guest book and wrote: ‘It is a great honour for me. This is a beautiful day. A new beginning.’
Speaking to reporters earlier on Air Force One as he made his way to Israel, the president said: ‘The war is over.’
‘People are tired of it, it’s been centuries, not just recent,’ he said. ‘The ceasefire will hold, we’re going to make sure it holds.’
He added: ‘After two harrowing years in darkness and captivity, 20 courageous hostages are returning to the glorious embrace of their families,’ Trump said.
‘Twenty-eight more precious loved ones are coming home at last to rest in this sacred soil for all of time.
‘After so many years of unceasing war and endless danger, today the skies are calm, the guns are silent and the sirens are still.’
Families and friends of the hostages broke out into wild cheers as Israeli television channels announced that their loved ones were being released.
Tens of thousands of Israelis were also watching the transfers at public screenings across the country, with a major event being held in Tel Aviv.
British-Israeli Emily Damari, freed from captivity last January, was seen watching her best friends Gali and Ziv being released in a private viewing session with close family and friends.
She was sat beside Romi Gonen who was held with her for much of their time in captivity.
