Israeli hostages home: ‘God speed peace can come, but we ain't there yet’
The remaining living Israeli hostages, taken on October 7 2023, have been freed by Hamas, as part of Donald Trump’s 20-point peace plan. But as the US president takes a “victory lap” of the Middle East, is it too soon to celebrate the end of a devastating war?
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In brief…
- Hostages taken by Hamas on October 7 2023 have been returned to Israel, on a day that has been “a long time coming”, for people of the Middle East, with a promise of peace in the region.
- Donald Trump has visited Tel Aviv, on what The News Agents describe as a “victory lap”, as the leader is credited with beginning a new peace process.
- They say, however, that today is too soon to celebrate peace, as the release of hostages is just a first step, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remains opposed to a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine.
What’s the story?
Alon Ohel smiles as he speaks to IDF soldiers in Gaza. Gali and Ziv Berman embrace one another as they reunite, about to become free men.
For more than two years, the Israeli pianist and the twin brothers have been among the hostages held captive by Hamas after its terror attack on October 7 2023.
Today, they walked free as part of a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, and are among the 20 living hostages returned in an initial step towards peace in the region, with videos and images of the smiling men shared following their first moments of freedom.
The ceasefire was brought about by the work of Donald Trump and his administration, with the president also visiting Israel to mark the return of the hostages, and is part of a 20-point plan for peace in the region.
“It does feel that this is a big day in Middle East politics, a day that has been a bloody long time coming, and a bloody war that has just been so destructive on all sides,” says Jon Sopel.
On October 7 2023, Emily Maitlis adds, it would have been unthinkable that it would have taken two years and the deaths of an estimated 65,000 Palestinians to reach this point.
Israel is set to release 250 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences for separate deadly attacks in Israel, and 1,700 detained since the war began, as part of that plan.
But peace remains uncertain, with pivotal parts of the plan unconfirmed – such as how Hamas will disarm.
Donald Trump and his Middle East 'victory lap'
Air Force One touched down in Tel Aviv on the morning of the hostages' release, with The News Agents describing Donald Trump's visit to Israel, to speak at The Knesset (the country's parliament) as a "victory lap", there to accept the praise for his role in the peace process so far.
He has insisted the war is "over", but is his certainty a little premature?
Addressing The Knesset just hours after the hostages were released, he spoke of calm skies, silent guns and still sirens, suggesting that peace had already come to the Middle East.
"He's back on his theme, which is: mission accomplished. We've done it," says Emily.
"I don't think anyone can subtract from what has happened today. It is the most incredible start – but there will be people saying, for Christ's sake, do not do the 'we've done it' yet.
"There is a long, long way to go, and there are a lot of missteps that it is possible to make between now and whatever we need to get to for something that feels like enduring, everlasting peace."
During his lengthy address, Trump described Netanyahu as the “man who saved Israel” and a “great patriot”.
What next for Netanyahu?
Netanyahu told The Knesset he is "committed" to achieving peace in the Middle East – but what does his peace look like?
When Netanyahu addressed the United Nations in September 2025, dozens of officials and diplomats left the room as he began speaking, in protest of his actions in Palestine in the two years since October 7.
In his speech, he remained opposed to a two-state solution, which has been long seen as the only option for lasting peace between Israel and Palestine.
"They saw a man in front of them who did not want to recognise Palestine, who accused countries that did recognise Palestine of anti-semitism and who was fundamentally not committed to a two state solution, not on his terms," Emily says.
"And so there has been this change in Netanyahu who stands before us today saying he believes in peace."
Jon says that the support of Trump could now see the Israeli leader, facing a corruption trial in his homeland, an arrest warrant on charges of war crimes from the International Criminal Court and a huge loss of support from the people of Israel "rise one more time".
What's The News Agents' take?
Families reunited. Hostages home. 13 October 2025 is a day of celebration for people in Israel and across the Middle East – but it is also one which, The News Agents say, also requires hesitancy and caution.
"This is going to be an incredibly visceral and tangible moment – for not just the hostages, not just their families – but for many of those in Israel for whom time stopped," says Emily.
"Life stopped on October 7, two years ago, and they have been holding their breath for this moment.
"But there will be many families for whom today is about those who didn't come home. And there will be many families thinking today is a celebration that arguably could, or should, have come much earlier."
An earlier ceasefire was broken in March 2025 when Israel launched airstrikes on Gaza after a two month pause in the conflict.
"What's happening in the Knesset is huge," says Jon.
"It is true that the guns have fallen silent, mostly, in Gaza right now, but it is also, I think, journalistically negligent not to talk about some of these massive obstacles that are still in the way.
"God speed that they can sort these out, but we ain't there yet, and I think to start thinking that we are is just fallacious."