People react as they gather to watch a live broadcast of Israeli hostages released from Gaza at a plaza known as hostages square in Tel Aviv, Israel, Monday, Oct. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)
Israelis and Palestinians rejoice as hostages are released and prisoners freed, in photos
Original Publication Date: October 12, 2025 10:56PM
Publication Updated: October 13, 2025 5:17AM
Israelis celebrated the return of the last surviving hostages from Gaza — a defining exchange in the fragile ceasefire that has paused two years of war between Israel and Hamas. Palestinian prisoners were released by Israel as part of the ceasefire deal, arriving to welcoming crowds in the West Bank and Gaza.
As part of the day’s remarkable developments, U.S. President Donald Trump addressed the Knesset, receiving a standing ovation in the Israeli parliament. He and other leaders arrived in the Middle East to discuss postwar plans while aid was increasingly flowing into famine-stricken Gaza.
This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.
A Palestinian prisoner makes the victory sign after being released from an Israeli prison as part of a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, upon his arrival in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Monday, Oct. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed)Ziv Berman, an Israeli hostage released from the Gaza Strip gestures from the window of a helicopter landing at the Sheba Medical Center in Ramat Gan, Israel, Tuesday, June 7, 2016. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)A military helicopter takes off from Beilinson Hospital in Petah Tikva, Israel, after transporting hostages released from Hamas captivity in the Gaza Strip, Monday, Oct. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)Freed Israeli hostage Alon Ohel gestures from a van as he arrives at Beilinson hospital in Petah Tikva, Israel, after he was released from Hamas captivity in the Gaza Stripl, Monday, Oct. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)People gather at a plaza known as the hostages square in Tel Aviv, Israel, Monday, Oct. 13, 2025 prior to the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)ICRC vehicles carrying released Israeli hostages make their way through groups of Palestinians and Hamas gunmen on their way to the Israeli border, in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Monday, Oct. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)Family and friends of Israeli hostage Bar Kupershtein celebrate as they await the release of Kupershtein and other hostages from Hamas captivity in Gaza, in Holon, Israel, Monday, Oct. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)A freed Israeli hostage holds an Israeli flag from inside a military helicopter upon arrival at Beilinson Hospital in Petah Tikva, Israel, after being released from Hamas captivity in the Gaza Strip, Monday, Oct. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)Palestinian prisoners are greeted after being released from Israeli prison following a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Monday, Oct. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Illean)People react as they gather to watch a live broadcast of Israeli hostages released from Gaza at a plaza known as hostages square in Tel Aviv, Israel, Monday, Oct. 13, 2025. The release took place as part of a cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hamas. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)President Donald Trump speaks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as they sit together in a car after a welcoming ceremony at Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv, Israel, Monday, Oct. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)A Jewish man wears a kippah printed with the image of U.S. President Donald Trump during a gathering at a plaza known as hostages square in Tel Aviv, Israel, Monday, Oct. 13, 2025, before the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)People wave Israeli flags in celebration as they wait outside Beilinson Hospital in Petah Tikva, Israel, where some of the freed hostages are expected to arrive after being released from Hamas captivity in the Gaza Strip, Monday, Oct. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)People gather prior to the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza, at a plaza known as the hostages square in Tel Aviv, Israel, Monday, Oct. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)Members of an Israeli military band listen to a live broadcast showing the first group of hostages being released from Hamas captivity in Gaza, ahead of a welcoming ceremony for U.S. President Donald Trump’s arrival at Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv, Israel, Monday, Oct. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)People gather at a plaza known as the hostages square in Tel Aviv, Israel, Monday, Oct. 13, 2025 prior to the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)People react as they gather to watch a live broadcast of Israeli hostages released from Gaza at a plaza known as hostages square in Tel Aviv, Israel, Monday, Oct. 13, 2025. The release took place as part of a cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hamas. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)Freed Israeli hostage Eitan Mor gestures from a van as he arrives at Beilinson hospital in Petah Tikva, Israel, after he was released from Hamas captivity in the Gaza Stripl, Monday, Oct. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)People wave Israeli flags as a military helicopter carrying Israeli freed hostages arrives at Beilinson hospital in Petah Tikva, Israel, after they were released from Hamas captivity in the Gaza Strip, Monday, Oct. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)People react as they gather to watch a live broadcast of Israeli hostages released from Gaza at a plaza known as hostages square in Tel Aviv, Israel, Monday, Oct. 13, 2025. The release took place as part of a cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hamas. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty)People hold Israeli flags as they gather before the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza, outside a military base near Reim, southern Israel, on Monday, Oct. 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)
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