Who are the 20 Released Hostages? A Brief Glimpse Into Their Lives

Early Monday, twenty Israeli hostages who had been held in Gaza for almost exactly two years by Hamas terrorists returned home as part of the first phase of U.S. President Donald Trump’s ceasefire and hostage release agreement.

The hostages’ stories reflect extraordinary courage, survival, and resilience under harrowing conditions.

Below is a list of the survivors:

Omri Miran

Abducted in front of his wife and two daughters at Kibbutz Nir Oz, Omri Miran was taken during the Hamas invasion of October 7, 2023. The Hungarian-Israeli was seen in Hamas propaganda in April, and fellow released hostages confirmed he was alive and in good health as of July.

Avinatan Or

Electrical engineer Avinatan Or, 32, was taken from the Nova Music Festival alongside his partner Noa Argamani. His mother, Ditza Or, told The Jewish Chronicle he had a chance to escape but refused to leave Noa behind “at the hands of the monsters.” Signs of life from Or had reached his family multiple times during captivity.

David Cunio

Thirty-three-year-old David Cunio, kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz with his partner and twin daughters, was confirmed alive through reports from other hostages. He was among the captives set to return in the first release phase.

Ariel Cunio

Argentinian-Israeli Ariel Cunio, 28, was abducted with his partner from Kibbutz Nir Oz. Little is publicly known about his captivity, but other hostages confirmed he remained alive as recently as February.

Guy Gilboa-Dalal

While attending the Nova Music Festival with his brother Gal, Guy Gilboa-Dalal was captured when the siblings fled separately. Hamas released footage of him tied up in Gaza. He endured severe psychological torture, being forced to watch prior hostage releases alongside fellow captive Evyatar David.

Evyatar David

Also taken from the Nova Music Festival at age 22, David helped others flee and stayed behind to aid the wounded. Released hostages reported that he suffered intense physical abuse and malnutrition alongside Gilboa-Dalal.

Eitan Horn

Captured from Kibbutz Nir Oz with his brother Yair, 39-year-old Eitan Horn survived despite injuries sustained during captivity. His family publicly campaigned for the hostages’ release, relying on reports that he was alive but in need of medical care.

Nimrod Cohen

At 19, Cohen was taken from a burning tank near Kibbutz Nirim along with fellow soldiers. United Nations reports indicated he was held in Khan Yunis, and he appeared alongside the Horn brothers in Hamas propaganda before Yair Horn’s release.

Rom Braslavski

Twenty-one-year-old German-Israeli Rom Braslavski was captured while defending festival-goers at Nova. Reports from released hostages indicated his health had deteriorated under harsh conditions, with severe foot injuries and extreme weight loss.

Bar Kupershtein

At 21, Kupershtein was abducted while repeatedly aiding injured victims at the Nova Music Festival. His family confirmed he had survived despite the brutal conditions of captivity.

Alon Ohel

Hebrew University student Alon Ohel, 23, was taken from the Nova Music Festival. His presence in Hamas footage had confirmed he remained alive in Gaza.

Eitan Mor

Twenty-five-year-old Mor, working security at Nova, was captured while helping festival-goers escape. His family received multiple signs of life from released hostages, confirming he had endured captivity alongside friends under harsh conditions.

Matan Angrest

Abducted from a tank in Kibbutz Nir Oz at 22, Angrest suffered severe physical abuse from the moment of capture. He developed worsened asthma due to the damp tunnels, enduring violent interrogation sessions and temporary confinement in tunnels just to catch his breath.

Matan Zangauker

Taken from Kibbutz Nir Oz with his partner, Ilana Gritzewsky, Zangauker held the safe room door for her to escape before they were both captured. Reports indicated he suffered weight loss, abdominal pain, and mental distress, potentially exacerbated by a family history of degenerative muscle disease.

Segev Kalfon

Abducted from the Nova Music Festival, 26-year-old Kalfon was confirmed alive in February by released hostage Ohad Ben Ami. Kalfon, an IDF veteran, had preexisting PTSD and orthopedic injuries, which worsened during captivity.

Maxim Herkin

Ukrainian-Israeli Maxim Herkin, 37, was taken from the Nova Music Festival. He had immigrated to Israel with his mother and brother and maintained a partner and infant child in Russia. He appeared in a hostage video in April.

Yosef-Chaim Ohana

Ohana, 24, was attending the Nova Music Festival before being abducted. He used Givati Brigade medic training to rescue wounded attendees, later appearing in Hamas footage with Elkana Bohbot.

Elkana Bohbot

Thirty-six-year-old Colombian-Israeli Bohbot, an organizer of the Nova Music Festival, was chained, starved, and isolated. He suffers from asthma and a skin condition developed in Gaza’s tunnels.

Ziv and Gali Berman

The German-Israeli twins were abducted minutes apart from Kibbutz Kfar Aza. Gali was taken while defending former hostage Emily Damari; Ziv was captured after fleeing a burning home. Survivor accounts indicate the brothers were held separately.