Israelis have gathered in the streets to celebrate hostages being returned from Gaza as part of a ceasefire agreement brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump.
Hamas released all 20 remaining living hostages on Monday as part of the ceasefire that pauses two years of war.
Tens of thousands gathered in Hostages Square, Tel Aviv, to watch the releases and a joyful roar erupted from the crowd as the first images of the hostages flashed on the screen, the Associated Press reported.
A photo showed Gali and Ziv Berman, 28-year-old twins from Kfar Aza, reuniting with each other with expressions of disbelief.
Footage on CNN shows crowds waving Israeli flags Re’im and Tel Aviv, where video footage showed a huge banner was displayed on a city beach with the words “thank you” and a silhouette outline resembling President Trump.
Staff at Israel’s national parliament, the Knesset, handed out red, MAGA-resembling baseball caps with the words “Trump the peace president,” Israeli political reporter Sam Sokol said on X.
The hostages were released to the Red Cross and are set to be transferred to a military base in southern Israel to be reunited with their families before being taken by helicopter to Israeli hospitals, according to the Israeli government.
This is a developing story; updates to follow
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