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The emotional reunion between families and their loved ones is a momentous occasion. For the first time in 13 days, we’re getting a glimpse into the desperate quest to free the hostages, and the days of uncertainty for their families.
Let’s start with what led up to the release. It began on August 21, when the IDF said four Israeli soldiers and three civilians wandered into Gaza while on a hike. The soldiers were tasked with updating the national border, marking the first time boots were on the ground since a 2014 conflict.
For 12 days, the Israeli government struggled to secure the release of the hostages. But a window of opportunity opened up on September 1, when the Egyptians brokered a deal between Israel, the Palestinian Authority, and Hamas. The militants demanded Israel release 33 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the hostages.
On August 31, Israel’s defense minister said he would consider releasing the prisoners. The negotiators presented the idea to the families, who were torn. “We loved him, but we knew what was at stake,” says one of the hostage’s mothers. “We would have agreed to anything to bring him back to us.”
On September 1, at 12:10 PM, the prisoners were released. The news spread like wildfire, with celebrations in the streets. The families waited anxiously at the border, vainly trying to find their loved ones, but it took another 13 hours before the hostages were finally released at 11:40 PM.
Tears of joy, the families are reunited with their loved ones, after the emotional journey of 13 days.
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