Politics Tearful reunion - hostages back in Israel

SDA

30.1.2025 - 17:59

Fighters from Islamic Jihad and the Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, arrive in front of the house of the slain Hamas leader in Gaza, Jihia al-Sinwar, to hand over the Israeli and Thai hostages to the Red Cross teams. Photo: Abed Rahim Khatib/dpa
Fighters from Islamic Jihad and the Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, arrive in front of the house of the slain Hamas leader in Gaza, Jihia al-Sinwar, to hand over the Israeli and Thai hostages to the Red Cross teams. Photo: Abed Rahim Khatib/dpa
Keystone

After the return of eight freed hostages from the Gaza Strip, relatives in Israel are rejoicing. The government published pictures of the young soldier Agam Berger, in which she can be seen tearfully embracing her parents and later her siblings. Berger jokingly expresses her horror at how much her younger brother has grown. According to her, the teenager is now as tall as her father. The 20-year-old was held hostage for almost 16 months.

Keystone-SDA

Photos and videos also show her at a tearful reunion with the four female soldiers released last Saturday, with whom she was kidnapped on October 7, 2023. The five young women can first be seen in a group hug, after which they all hug Agam Berger again individually.

The attack by terrorists on the female soldiers, in which several were killed, caused particular horror in Israel. Hamas footage at the time showed the young Israeli women, some still dressed in pyjamas, covered in blood.

Israel's government also disseminated a video of 80-year-old German-Israeli Gadi Moses, which shows him in the arms of his sobbing children as he reunites with his family. He also says in the video that he will do everything he can to rebuild his hometown. Terrorists devastated the Nir Oz kibbutz on October 7.

The Israeli government also published photos of 29-year-old German-Israeli Arbel Yehud. One shows her in a helicopter with her parents, brother and sister-in-law after her release, another shows her hugging them tightly.

Israel also distributed photos and videos of the five released Thais, some of which show them smiling on their arrival at an Israeli military facility and in a helicopter.