Live: Israel's Hostages Square as freedom nears for captives

Government

Hamas has agreed to release all of the remaining living hostages taken from Israel during the October 7 attacks as part of a peace deal - over two years after the attacks took place. A total of 251 Israeli and foreign nationals were taken hostage when Hamas militants stormed across the border. The majority were returned alive during two temporary ceasefire agreements in autumn 2023 and between January and March 2025, but dozens of others have been killed while in captivity. Forty-eight hostages