The announcement by US President Donald Trump that Israel and Hamas agreed to the first phase of a deal that will see the immediate release of the remaining living hostages held in Gaza set off a flood of emotion earlier Thursday morning among freed captives and families, who have waited two years for their loved ones’ return.

Some of the families and former captives gathered at Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, where mass weekly rallies have been held to call for the hostages’ return, as they cheered the news and chanted “Nobel Prize to Trump” while vowing to continue demonstrating until the slain hostages in the Gaza Strip are brought back to Israel.

“Thank God, it finally happened! I can’t believe it. Avia and Guy [Evyatar David and Guy Gilboa Dalal, who were held with him in captivity], I’m waiting for you,” former hostage Omer Vankert wrote on Instagram.

Another freed hostage, Eliya Cohen, posted: “Tell me, is there anyone in this country who can actually breathe?” Fellow survivors Emily Damari and Romi Gonen also celebrated the announcement with photos of visible relief and joy.

Silvia Cunio, mother of hostages David and Ariel, spoke through tears after Trump’s address: “I dream of the hugs, the kisses. Of David hugging Sharon, Emma, and Yuli; of Ariel hugging Arbel. I thank everyone for the warm embrace these past two years — it gave me the strength to keep going.”

Sharon Cunio, the wife of David, posted a photo of the couple with their two girls, writing: “Emma and Yulie, dad is coming home.”

Danny Miran, father of hostage Omri Miran, said he was “smiling from ear to ear, but with tears of joy.” He added: “My two eldest granddaughters came over, and we danced together in the hallway. I’ve been waiting more than two years for this moment.”

Vicki Cohen, mother of hostage Nimrod Cohen, wrote on X: “My child, you’re coming home!”

Einav Zangauker, mother of hostage Matan Zangauker, shared an emotional message on social media, saying “I prayed for these tears.”

“Matan is coming home to me, to [his sisters] Natalie and Shani, and to [his partner] Ilana, the love of his life,” wrote Zangauker, who has been among the most vociferous critics of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s handling of the hostage crisis and war.

Liran Berman, whose twin brothers Gali and Ziv are still in Gaza, wrote: “My Gali and Zivi, I love you so much. You’re coming back home.”

Their aunt, Maccabit Meir, told Channel 12 news that “there is no happiness like this.”

She said, “So many people are so happy” to hear the news that the hostages are to be released. “I can’t tell you how many messages I’m getting,” she said.

“It’s happening, it’s happening,” she repeated. “We were so afraid, and now I’m crying tears of happiness, not tears of fear,” she said.

Merav Gilboa-Dalal, mother of hostage Guy, said, “The main thing is that my son should come back healthy and on his own two feet.”

“That’s what I wish for all of us,” she said.

“And the experiences that they will have afterward will be amazing. Because we got him back again, a gift — one of the most amazing children in the world. A dream. A gift.”

“Finally, this saga, of the war, the injured, the dead, this pain of our heroic soldiers who gave their souls for us [is coming to an end], and the hostages, the victory, that they are all coming home,” she continued. “And I hope the slain hostages will all return at the same time, and that we can close this circle.”

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum said the families greeted the news of the captives’ upcoming release “with excitement, anticipation and apprehension.”

“This is an important and significant step toward bringing everyone home,” the forum said, “but our struggle is not over — and will not be over — until the last hostage returns.”

The statement urged the Israeli government “to convene immediately and approve the agreement,” warning that “any delay could come at a heavy price for the hostages and for the soldiers.”

“We are confident,” the families continued, “that the prime minister will secure an absolute majority for the implementation of the agreement reached.”

The forum concluded with a message that has become both plea and promise: “We will not rest and we will not stop until the last hostage returns. We will bring them home. We will rise again.”

Terror groups in the Gaza Strip are holding 48 hostages, including 47 of the 251 abducted by Hamas-led terrorists on October 7, 2023. They include the bodies of at least 26 confirmed dead by the IDF. Twenty are believed to be alive and there are grave concerns for the well-being of two others, Israeli officials have said. Among the bodies held by Hamas is an IDF soldier killed in Gaza in 2014.

In Washington, a group of hostage families meeting with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick thanked Trump in a phone call for helping broker the deal.

“Mr. President, we believe in you, we know you’ve done so much for us… and we trust you will fulfill the mission until every hostage, every 48 of the hostages, are home,” one of the relatives said over speakerphone.

Another added: “God bless you Mr. President, God bless America.”

Trump responded by saying all the hostages would come back on Monday, which was met with applause from the families.

Israeli leaders also hailed the announcement, with Netanyahu issuing a statement at the same as Trump’s declaration saying “With God’s help we will bring them all home.”

“A great day for Israel. [On Thursday] I will convene the government to approve the agreement and bring all our dear hostages home,” Netanyahu said in a subsequent statement from his office.

“I thank the brave IDF soldiers and all the security forces — it is thanks to their courage and sacrifice that we have reached this day,” he added.

“With God’s help, together we will continue to achieve all our goals and expand peace with our neighbors.”

President Isaac Herzog said “all of Israel stands with the hostages.”

“At this hour, all of Israel stands with the hostages. All of Israel stands with their families,” Herzog wrote in a Hebrew-language post on X.

“They shall return from the land of the enemy… and children shall return to their own borders,” he added, quoting a verse from the biblical book of Jeremiah.

Defense Minister Israel Katz praised Trump and Netanyahu “for the leadership that led to the deal,” as well as “the heroic IDF soldiers whose courage, determination and incredible sacrifice brought us to this great moment.”

Minister Yitzhak Wasserlauf of the far-right Otzma Yehudit party, which has opposed previous ceasefire deals that did not include the return of all the captives, also cheered the agreement, saying “everyone will return home… without anyone remaining behind.”

Opposition Leader Yair Lapid thanked Trump, saying that Israel was “waiting for our children with bated breath.”

“All our hearts are with the 48 families, hoping and praying for the release of everyone — the living to the bosoms of their loved ones, and the dead for a proper burial in the soil of Israel,” Blue and White-National Unity chief Benny Gantz wrote on social media.

Agencies contributed to their report.