Hostages The men who may finally be freed after two years

After more than 700 days in captivity, the 20 hostages believed to be alive in Gaza are set to be freed in the coming days.

- Ashifa Kassam

They were among the 251 people kidnapped during the 7 October attacks on southern Israel, in which Hamas-led militants killed about 1,200 people.

Hamas is expected to release the living hostages within 72 hours, after which Israel will free 250 Palestinians serving long terms in Israeli prisons and 1,700 others detained in Gaza during the war.

A further 26 hostages are presumed dead and the fate of two is unknown. Hamas has indicated that recovering the bodies of the dead may take longer than releasing those who are alive. Here are those expected to return home:

Matan Angrest, 22

In June, Angrest's family released footage that appeared to show the Israeli soldier being pulled from a tank by scores of men at the Nahal Oz base on 7 October 2023.

"For me as a mother, it's the hardest thing to watch," Anat Angrest told the broadcaster CNN as she explained she had made the video public because of fears that her son had been abandoned and forgotten by officials.

Gali and Ziv Berman, 28

The twins were taken hostage at Kfar Aza kibbutz, less than two miles from Gaza's border. Speaking to the Guardian a month after their abduction, their older brother Liran said life would never be the same.

"We had our lives before October 7 and now we don't know what will happen in the future," he said. "Even if my brothers are released, it will leave lifelong scars."

Elkana Bohbot, 36

Bohbot was taken captive at the Nova music festival. He had stayed behind to try to help the wounded in the attack, according to the American Jewish Committee.

In May, he was identified as the hostage in a video published by Hamas's armed wing. It appeared to show Bohbot under duress.

He said the bombardment could cost him his life and pleaded to be reunited with his wife and son.

Rom Braslavski, 21