Israeli hostages have returned to home soil in a vital step towards peace in Gaza after two years of brutal war, with crowds erupting in joy at their freedom and families weeping at their reunion.

The hostage release was greeted with celebrations across Israel and live broadcasts around the world, as US President Donald Trump landed in Tel Aviv to mark the historic moment after the ceasefire negotiated last week.

Trump is planning talks with more than 20 world leaders at a summit in Egypt after the hostage release in a bid to negotiate a lasting peace now that the opening steps in the ceasefire deal have been confirmed.

The joy at return of the hostages was marked with grief over those who died in captivity as well as the deaths of 1200 Israelis when Hamas – a designated terrorist gro

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