AKRON, Ohio (WJW) - Benny Rom, a Lieutenant Colonel in the Gaza Division of Israel's Military, watched through the night Sunday into Monday as the remaining 20 living Israeli hostages were released by Hamas.

Rom has been fighting for the release of the hostages since they were taken following the Hamas invasion of Israel in October of 2023.

"It was a joyful moment like we have been expecting this moment, it feels like ages...ages," he told Fox 8 News.

Also watching from Akron was Goor Dotan, who has served as a local community security coordinator and a volunteer in the Israeli Border Police.

Dotan was overjoyed to see footage released by the Israeli Defense Forces when a friend of his son was among those released and reunited with his family.

"To see his family hug him, and they crie

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