The Israelis are happy with the peace agreement that will see the hostages returned

US President Donald Trump’s announcement of an agreement that is expected to lead to the release of hostages held in the Gaza Strip for more than two years has sparked joy and relief throughout Israel.

The Hostage Families Forum, an organization that has called for the return of Israeli prisoners in Gaza, expressed “deep gratitude” to Trump for what it called a “historic breakthrough.”

The deal – which still needs approval from Israel’s war cabinet – will see the release of 20 alive hostages and the bodies of 28 dead hostages in exchange for the release of 250 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences in Israeli prisons and 1,700 detainees from Gaza.

So far, 148 hostages have been returned – most as part of previous ceasefire agreements – 51 bodies have been recovered and eight hostages have been rescued.

Jubilant scenes emerged at Tel Aviv’s hostage square where hundreds of people gathered before the deal was signed.

A crowd of people began clapping and dancing under the American and Israeli flags, and a woman raised a sign saying: “We love Trump.”

“It’s a magical day,” the woman said.

Yael, 50, cried as she watched the crowd dance.

“I’m so excited, it’s so comforting,” she said. “We need to see them back to their families.”

The mother and sister of Israeli hostage Matan Zanjoker lit fireworks to celebrate the news of his return to his homeland.

“They’re coming back!…Matan is coming home!” Einav Zanjoker said as she held her daughter.

Vicki Cohen, the mother of Israeli hostage Nimrod Cohen, posted on social media: “My baby, you are coming home.”

Former British-Israeli hostage Emily Damary celebrated with another freed hostage, Romi Gonen, by saying prayers of gratitude, then toasting “L’chaim,” meaning “to life.” She campaigned for the release of her twin friends, Gally and Ziv Berman.

Their brother, Liran Berman, posted: “Gali and Zev, I love you so much. You will come home.”

Jill Dickman’s cousin, Carmel Gat, was taken hostage on October 7, 2023, and her body was recovered from a tunnel in Gaza almost a year later. He has joined other hostage families in pressing for an agreement that would lead to the return of all those still detained in Gaza.

“I can’t believe this is actually happening. We’ve waited so long and here it is,” he said.

He said he feels “broken” that Carmel will not be among those returning home, but he is “bright with joy for the families of the hostages who have finally returned.”

Dalia Kusner, whose brother-in-law Eitan Horn is still a prisoner in Gaza, said she felt like she was living “in a dream.”

“We are so grateful to President Trump and everything he has done for us,” she said. “We feel this could be the beginning of the end of this nightmare, and embracing Etan is closer than ever.”

But she cautioned that it was still too early to celebrate.

“Until the last hostage comes, we will not open the champagne. We will keep fighting… until the end,” she said.

“A lot of things can happen until the last minute, and that’s why we’re being so careful. We just want to thank everyone who participated in the efforts and making sure this agreement is completed… We will only celebrate when we bring home the last hostage.”

Eitan was taken from Kibbutz Nir Oz in southern Israel with his brother Yair, who was released from captivity under a ceasefire agreement earlier this year.