Israeli hostages, including Matan Zangauker, were freed after 738 days in Hamas captivity, marking a historic moment of relief and joy for families across Israel.

In a moment of pure, tear-filled joy, an Israeli mother spoke to her son for the first time in over two years on Friday, as part of a historic prisoner exchange that has seen the release of several Israeli hostages held by Hamas since the brutal attack on October 7, 2023.

In the heart-wrenching phone call, Einav Zangauker, who had spent 738 agonizing days campaigning for her son’s release, could barely contain her emotions as she heard her 25-year-old son Matan’s voice for the first time.

“You’re coming home. You’re all coming home,” she said, her voice cracking with relief. “There’s no more war!”

The moment was a powerful symbol of the hope that the families of the 20 hostages still in captivity have clung to for over two years.

Matan Zangauker, one of the Israeli hostages released on Friday morning, was among those who had been held in the confines of Gaza, living through unimaginable conditions.

His mother’s relief mirrored that of many other families anxiously awaiting the return of their loved ones.

A Red Cross convoy was the first to deliver seven Israeli hostages, including Matan, to the military base in Re’im, located near the Gaza border.

The hostages—some of whom were seen showing visible signs of exhaustion—were quickly whisked away for medical checks before being reunited with their families.

Among the released was Matan Angrest, 22, twin brothers Gali and Ziv Berman, both 28, Alon Ohel, 24, Eitan Mor, 25, Guy Gilboa-Dalal, 24, and Omri Miran, 48.

The jubilant celebrations began almost immediately. Families burst into cheers, their tears of joy mixing with disbelief as they watched their loved ones make their way to freedom on live broadcasts across Israel.

People gathered at public screening events in cities like Tel Aviv, where hundreds of onlookers anxiously awaited the moment they’d been praying for.

For many, the scene was a welcome distraction from the devastation of the ongoing conflict.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the hostage release as a “step toward peace,” while U.S. President Donald Trump, who had brokered the historic ceasefire deal, arrived in Tel Aviv to deliver a historic address to the Knesset.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump sounded hopeful but cautious. “The war is over,” he declared, though acknowledging the uncertainty that still looms. “People are tired of it; it’s been centuries. The ceasefire will hold—we’re going to make sure it holds.”

With Trump’s arrival marking the beginning of a new phase in the war, Israelis hoped this moment of celebration could signal the dawn of a more peaceful future. Still, the path ahead remains fraught with questions.

This major exchange comes after years of bloody fighting, which had seen the conflict between Israel and Hamas spiral into its deadliest war ever.

Since the deadly attack in October 2023, which led to the capture of over 200 hostages, the country had been gripped by fear and uncertainty, with each new piece of footage from Gaza sending shockwaves through the nation.

For Matan’s mother, Einav, every day had felt like an eternity. In the days following her son’s abduction, she had tirelessly campaigned for his release.

Alongside many others, she lobbied for the hostage exchange deal that would eventually see her son freed. Through those long months of waiting, she never gave up hope, continuing to speak out for her son’s freedom, even when it seemed like no progress was being made.

“I’ve never stopped fighting,” Einav said, her voice breaking with emotion as she spoke to the media after her son’s release. “But today, I can finally say—he’s coming home.”

The Zangaukers’ reunion was just one of many that took place on Friday. Across the country, families of the hostages gathered at various locations, holding their breath as they awaited confirmation of their loved ones’ release.

Many have been waiting for this moment since the war began, hoping against hope that their loved ones would not become another statistic in a war that has already claimed thousands of lives.

Among the emotional scenes, one that stood out was that of Emily Damari, a British-Israeli woman who had been freed from captivity earlier this year.

Emily, who had spent months in captivity alongside some of the released hostages, was seen watching in tears as her friends, twin brothers Gali and Ziv Berman, were brought back to safety.

“It’s hard to believe it’s really happening,” she said. “After everything we went through, this is finally the moment we’ve been waiting for.”

The release of the seven hostages was part of a larger, complex agreement brokered by Donald Trump, which also includes a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and the release of over 1,900 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.

Under the terms of the deal, additional hostages are expected to be released within the next few hours.

For the families of the 14 remaining hostages, the wait continues, but with a new sense of optimism. The emotional rollercoaster of these past two years has taken a toll on them, but the news of the first group’s release has reinvigorated their hope.

“We’ve been waiting for this moment for so long,” said Yuval Ovadia, a 24-year-old student from Tel Aviv who was waiting at a gathering in a public square in Tel Aviv. “It’s still so surreal. It’s exciting, but also so emotional. We’ve all been through so much together.”

But not everyone has been lucky. For Evyatar David, a 28-year-old Israeli, his joy at seeing the release of others was tempered by heartbreak.

Evyatar, who was originally supposed to be released in January but was instead subjected to further captivity, was forced to watch in agony as others were freed.

Even more chilling were the videos Hamas had released showing Evyatar in a state of severe malnutrition, reportedly digging his own grave in a tunnel in Gaza.

Evyatar’s family is among those left waiting anxiously, hoping that the remaining hostages will be brought home safely.

“We have lived through unimaginable pain,” said his father, who was waiting at the military base to greet any remaining hostages. “We’re just praying that it’s his turn next.”

The historic ceasefire deal and the prisoner exchange have brought a glimmer of hope, but as Trump heads to Egypt for a peace summit aimed at ending the war, many questions remain.

How will Hamas respond in the coming days? And what of the broader conflict between Israel and Gaza?

For now, though, Israel can celebrate this moment of triumph, even as they brace for what lies ahead.

The return of the hostages has marked a bittersweet victory in a war that has shattered countless lives but, for some, this moment will remain a beacon of hope for a more peaceful future.