Tens of thousands gathered in Tel Aviv and across Israel on Monday as the final living hostages seized in the October 7, 2023 attacks were flown home under a U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement, prompting scenes of elation, embraces and public thanksgiving. The returns mark a major milestone in a conflict-weary nation and were greeted by standing ovations in the Knesset as international mediators hailed the exchange as a step toward de-escalation.
But amid the celebrations there was sharp and very public anger: families and the Hostages and Missing Families Forum accused Hamas of failing to honour the full terms of the deal on the return of those killed in the October 7 attacks. Officials and relatives said only a small number of bodies would be handed over initially — far fewer than the 28 deceased that Israel says are still in Gaza — a shortfall the families described as a “blatant breach” that leaves many households without closure. The dispute has tempered national relief and refocused attention on outstanding humanitarian and forensic issues.
The ceasefire package — which also envisages large-scale Palestinian prisoner releases and the phased movement of Israeli forces — was brokered with intense international involvement and showcased high-level diplomacy, including U.S. engagement. Yet returning living hostages has reignited long-standing tensions over accountability and the dignity of the dead: family members said they would continue to press mediators and Israeli authorities to demand the immediate return of all remains and full compliance with the agreement.
For many Israelis the day was therefore one of mixed emotion: joy for the living brought home, grief for those whose fates remain unresolved, and renewed pressure on mediators to convert a fragile ceasefire into a durable settlement that respects both the living and the dead. As diplomats work to iron out the remaining steps, families and the nation wait for the next, painful phase of the process — accounting for the missing and reclaiming the bodies their loved ones deserve.
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