Few believed it would happen. For nearly two years, the world watched as talks to free the Israeli hostages held by Hamas collapsed one after another. Diplomats called the situation hopeless, analysts warned the window had closed, and many families had begun to accept the unthinkable.
Then came the news: the hostages were free. Under a deal brokered by former U.S. President Donald Trump, the last captives returned to Israel this week, ending one of the darkest chapters since the October 2023 Hamas attacks.
Crowds gathered in Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square and cheered as news confirmed the release of the final living hostages. The freed individuals were transported to an initial reception point in southern Israel, where they were reunited with their families in emotional scenes of relief.
From the beginning, Trump’s involvement was met with doubt. Critics dismissed his chances, saying his confrontational style would only make things worse. Former diplomats argued that subtle negotiation, not Trump’s trademark pressure tactics, was the only way forward. Yet while others doubted, Trump pressed ahead through back channels, working with leaders in Egypt, Qatar, and Jordan.
The agreement called for Hamas to release the remaining hostages in exchange for roughly 2,000 Palestinian detainees. Israel agreed to limited troop withdrawals and new humanitarian access into Gaza. The plan was finalized after weeks of indirect talks, driven by what aides described as Trump’s “no excuses” approach.
“When he said he’d get them home, most people laughed,” said one Israeli security official. “Now they’re home.”
Trump flew to Jerusalem shortly after the deal was announced, meeting families and addressing the Knesset. “They said it couldn’t be done,” he told lawmakers. “But strength and clarity work. We stood firm, and the hostages are free.”
Even skeptics acknowledged the achievement. A European diplomat involved in earlier negotiations said, “You can criticize the style, but not the outcome. He succeeded where everyone else failed.”
Not everyone was celebrating. Some Israeli opposition leaders warned that the release of thousands of Palestinian prisoners could pose future risks. But as freed hostages hugged loved ones on the tarmac, those concerns faded into the background.
Among them was Omri Miran, one of the first captured in 2023. His mother, who had become a symbol of the family’s struggle, said simply, “We prayed for this. Trump made it happen.”
For Trump, the moment was a vindication. He was doubted, mocked, and dismissed as a political showman chasing headlines. Yet in the end, it was his brand of hard-edged diplomacy that broke through.
“They said it couldn’t be done,” Trump said as he left Israel. “But it’s done.”