Ohel, a pianist, had only just returned to Israel from a holiday in Asia – ranging from Thailand to India and Nepal – when he chose to join friends at the music festival. He was trapped in a group at a bomb shelter and seized while others were slaughtered.
Two others released were twin brothers Ziv and Gali Berman, who were taken by Hamas from their home in the Kfar-Aza kibbutz along with their friend Emily Damari, a young British Israeli woman. While Damari was released in January in a temporary ceasefire, the brothers were kept as bargaining chips.
Hostages had been released before, some through negotiated prisoner exchanges during the war and some by determination of Israeli troops to find Hamas tunnels and do everything necessary to free those inside.
The search for the hostages became daily proof to the world of the relentless nature of the war and the fact that Israel would never rest until every possible citizen had been rescued. What some saw as a merciless war, inflicting unbearable civilian casualties, Israel saw as a just cause.
One harrowing hostage video showed a young man, Evyatar David, speaking in the dark to a camera operator about not knowing what he would be able to eat.
“I’m walking directly to my grave,” he said in the video as he dug at the sand at the base of a narrow tunnel. “This is the grave where I think I’m going to be buried.”
David was named as one of the 20 hostages released alive on Monday.
US President Donald Trump is welcomed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Ben Gurion International Airport, Tel Aviv.Credit: Getty Images
The hostage transfer cleared the way for Israel to release almost 2000 Palestinian prisoners, including 250 who were jailed for life, to ensure the ceasefire continues under terms agreed last week.
Trump has raised hopes that the ceasefire can be turned into a long-term peace after further talks with global leaders at a summit in Egypt that will include Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, who leads a governing authority that is meant to help restore stability to Gaza.
“The war is over, you understand that,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on his way to Israel.
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But there is no agreement on the power structure to manage Gaza after the withdrawal of Israeli troops over the past few days.
The Israeli Defence Forces said the country remained in a “multi-front war” and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signalled there could be more fighting to come.
“This is a historic event that blends sorrow over the release of murderers – and joy over the return of hostages,” Netanyahu said in a televised address on the eve of the hostage release.
“And I want to say: Everywhere we fought – we won.
“But in the same breath, I must tell you: the campaign is not over. There are still very great security challenges ahead of us. Some of our enemies are trying to rebuild themselves to attack us again. And as we say – ‘We’re on it’.”
Hamas fighters have returned to parts of Gaza following the withdrawal of Israeli troops under the terms of the ceasefire, fuelling speculation about further conflict.
The chief of staff of the Israel Defence Forces, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, said the country was in the midst of a “multi-front war” with more challenges ahead.
Netanyahu is not expected to attend the summit at the Sharm El-Sheikh resort in Egypt.
Those planning to attend include British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Jordan’s King Abdullah II and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.
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United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and European Council President Antonio Costa are also expected to attend.
Netanyahu appeared to be aware of the heated opinions about his leadership ahead of the hostage release.
Netanyahu was booed when his name was mentioned in front of the crowd in Tel Aviv on Saturday, when about 500,000 people gathered to commemorate those killed and kidnapped. Several media organisations with reporters in the square – now known as Hostage Square – reported the booing.
“I know there are many disagreements among us,” Netanyahu said in his televised address to Israel on the eve of the hostage release.
“But on this day, and I hope also in the period ahead, we have every reason to put them aside. Because through joint efforts we achieved enormous victories. Victories that astonished the entire world.”
Netanyahu thanked Israeli soldiers and commanders as well as the bereaved families of those who have died, and he thanked the people of Israel.
Billboards and placards were set up in Tel Aviv praising Trump, who was expected to meet with families of hostages and speak at the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, according to a schedule released by the White House.
As the third day of the ceasefire held, Associated Press footage showed dozens of trucks crossing the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing with the Gaza Strip. The Egyptian Red Crescent said they carried medical supplies, tents, blankets, food and fuel.
