On This Day: Final living hostages return from Gaza, as Trump addresses Knesset following ceasefire

OCTOBER 13, 2026 17:11Updated: OCTOBER 13, 2026 17:15One year ago, on October 13, 2025, the final 20 living hostages returned from their captivity in the Gaza Strip after over two years of being held in terror captivity.The 20 hostages were: Elkana Bohbot, Matan Angrest, Avinatan Or, Yosef-Haim Ohana, Alon Ohel, Evyatar David, Guy Gilboa-Dalal, Rom Braslavski, Gali Berman, Ziv Berman, Eitan Mor, Segev Kalfon, Nimrod Cohen, Maxim Herkin, Eitan Horn, Matan Zangauker, Bar Kupershtein, David Cunio, Ariel Cunio, and Omri Miran.The Israeli government's official social media pages commemorated the anniversary by posting pictures of some of the 20 hostages reuniting with their respective families.Several of the released hostages were suffering from serious medical conditions.Elkana Bohbot, Yosef-Chaim Ohana, Bar Kuperstein, twin brothers Ziv and Gali Berman, David and Ariel Cunio, Rom Braslavski, and Maxim Harkin were taken to Sheba Medical Center in Tel Hashomer for treatment, The Jerusalem Post reported at the time.Former hostage on his way to Sheba Medical Center, two years after being captured by Hamas,on October 13, 2025. (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON UNIT)Several hostages hospitalized for medical treatment following injuries, wounds suffered during captivityEstimates from health care professionals expected the released hostages to be suffering from severe malnutrition and extreme salt and vitamin deficiencies. Additionally, because of the conditions they were kept in, they were at risk of developing refeeding syndrome.The hostages suffered from the long-term consequences of two years of captivity, as extreme starvation leads to loss of muscle and fat, depletion of essential lipids, and the use of whatever muscle remains as a source of energy.More specifically, Alon Ohel suffered a shrapnel injury to his eye, Elkana Bohbot suffered from stomach pain due to overfeeding prior to his release, as well as pain in his legs and lower back, Matan Angrest was reportedly treated for injuries to his hands and fingers without anesthetic, which caused further complications during his time in captivity, and Evyatar David was suffering from nutrient and mineral deficiencies.Alon Ohel was chained in the same tunnel for almost the entire two years he was in captivity, and moved only once to a new tunnel 40 days before being released, Channel 12 reported at the time.Alon was moved unexpectedly to the new tunnel located in the center of the Gaza Strip after hours of journeying. The IDF reported that the move was to use him as a human shield to prevent the military from taking over the area.Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife, Sara, wrote a handwritten letter to each of the hostages. "On behalf of the entire Jewish people, welcome back! We have been waiting for you; we embrace you. Sara and Benjamin Netanyahu," the notes read.Trump addresses Knesset amid hostage releaseOn the same day, US President Donald Trump flew to Jerusalem and addressed the Knesset plenum following the October 9 announcement of the Gaza ceasefire and his 20-point peace plan, becoming only the fourth sitting US president to address the Israeli legislature.“The hostages are back! It feels so good to say it,” Trump told the attendees. “Like the US right now, it will be the golden age for Israel.” He added that “a lot of people said we were wasting our time” regarding a ceasefire agreement, but thanks to several “great American patriots, we achieved this.”The State Department released a statement on Tuesday commemorating the one-year since the Sharm el-Sheikh Peace Summit."One year ago today, leaders from across the world joined President Trump in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, for the Gaza Peace Summit to affirm their commitment to President Trump’s Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict. President Trump’s leadership ended a war that had no end in sight. Since that historic breakthrough, a series of remarkable achievements have built the foundations for a new Gaza: an enduring ceasefire, the return of every hostage both living and deceased, the establishment of the Board of Peace and a Palestinian technocratic administration to run Gaza, and a fully costed recovery plan. Humanitarian assistance has also increased so that food support is reaching more Palestinians, while Hamas theft of aid has dwindled. These achievements, while remarkable, represent only the beginning," the State Department said."Rebuilding Gaza will be an arduous, multi-year process, and implementation will be difficult. But we are making real progress toward a demilitarized Gaza, where Palestinians can live without Hamas rule, and Israel can have genuine and lasting security," the statement added.Hamas downplayed release of hostages as Israeli 'failure, surrender'Additionally, Hamas's military wing, the Izzadin al-Qassam Brigades, claimed that Israel "failed to recover" the hostages through military pressure, and has now "surrendered.""We declare our commitment to the agreement and its associated timetables, as long as the occupation [Israel] adheres to them," the terror group also claimed.Meanwhile, 1,716 Palestinians from Gaza detained by Israel are expected to be released at Gaza's Nasser Hospital, an official involved in the operation told Reuters at the time.Additionally, 250 Palestinians who had been serving life sentences in Israeli prisons are expected to be released to the West Bank, Jerusalem, and abroad.Remains of four murdered hostages returned later that dayAdditionally, the remains of four murdered hostages, Yossi Sharabi, Guy Illouz, Bipin Joshi, and Captain Daniel Peretz, were returned to Israel that evening for burial.In response to the Hamas announcement that the terror organization would only return four of the deceased hostages on Monday evening, the Hostage Families Forum called for an immediate suspension of Israel's agreement with Hamas until every deceased hostage was returned."Hamas's violation of the agreement must be met with a very serious response from the government and the mediators," a statement from the forum read. "An agreement must be honored by both sides. If Hamas does not fulfill their part, Israel should not fulfill its part either."After the return of the remains of the four murdered hostages, there were still 18 Israelis whose remains were held captive in the Gaza Strip. The final hostage, St.-Sgt.-Maj. Ran Gvili's remains were returned on January 26.Amichai Stein, Jerusalem Post Staff, and Reuters contributed to this report.Follow us on Google