'How long we dreamt of this day': joy and pain of families and those released after deal

Very different homecomings for freed Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners were witnessed by Bel Trew in Tel Aviv, Rateb al-Qaissy in Ramallah and Nedal Hamdouna in Gaza

- Bel Trew

After two years of heartache and many failed ceasefires, the family of hostage Guy Gilboa-Dalal did not dare to believe their long nightmare was over.

Seized at the Nova music festival during the bloody October 7 attack and held mostly in underground tunnels, the emaciated 24-year-old was filmed twice during his captivity - once, cruelly, showing him watching someone else being given their freedom.

But he was finally released yesterday - one of 20 hostages freed after one of the bloodiest conflicts of this generation - amid scenes of joy and deep pain for families across both Israel and Palestine.

In Tel Aviv, destroyed Gaza and the occupied West Bank, families were finally reunited, hugging and crying uncontrollably in scenes that would be repeated throughout the day.

In a deal brokered by Donald Trump, all 20 living Israeli hostages and captives were released back to their families and nearly 2,000 Palestinians were freed from Israeli prisons.

Among them were hundreds of Palestinians arrested in Gaza, who were sent back home to find only destruction and devastation.

Despite gaping holes in the US president's 20-point plan for peace, and huge questions of what will happen to Gaza, the occupied West Bank, the Palestinian people and their right to self-determination, there were moments of real joy.

In Hostages Square, central Tel Aviv, thousands of supporters had gathered from midnight to await the moment they had been waiting two years for. Spontaneous dance parties broke out in the streets, and shortly after 8am, grainy images of those held started to appear on massive screens set up in the square.