Every paper on Tuesday focuses on the release of Israeli hostages as part of the first phase of a US-brokered plan to end the war in Gaza, which also saw Palestinian prisoners and detainees freed. A number of fronts feature full-page picture spreads – a photograph of hostage Alon Ohel smiling with his family leads the Daily Express, paired with the headline “The long, painful nightmare is over”.
“Two years of torment over” declares the Times, picturing hostages Alon Ohel, Evyatar David and Avinatan Or reuniting with their respective loved ones. The paper says US President Donald Trump hailed an “end of an age of terror and death” in his speech following the hostage release, and urged members of the Israeli parliament not to resume hostilities.
Monday was a “rare moment of joy among both Israelis and Palestinians”, according to the Guardian, which carries a photograph of people rejoicing in Tel Aviv and another photo of a released Palestinian hugging his son. The paper reports that large crowds also gathered in Khan Younis for the return of nearly 1,700 Palestinians who had been detained during the war, while the West Bank capital Ramallah received 88 detainees who were serving life sentences in Israel.
“We did not give up faith, we did not lose hope” reads the headline of the i Paper, detailing the “jubilation and relief” for Israeli families after the release of the 20 remaining living hostages.
The Financial Times leads on Trump’s speech to the Israeli parliament, and reports that the president received multiple standing ovations as he “set out a grand postwar vision”. The paper hones in on the second phase of the ceasefire, which it says diplomats believe will be “far more complicated”, and notes that it has not been formally agreed to by Israel and Hamas.
Trump also used his speech to touch on other peace deals he hopes to broker, and the Telegraph says he told the Knesset that he plans to “focus on Russia first”. The paper reports that the Ukrainian prime minister and his top aide flew to Washington DC on Monday to begin “high level talks to strengthen Ukraine’s defense”, amid “mounting” speculation over the US president’s decision to ship Tomohawk weapons to the nation.
“Home and now it’s time for peace” reads the headline of the Metro, alongside a photo of the moment twin Israeli hostages Ziv and Gali Berman reunited.
The front page of the Star also focuses on the twins, featuring a full-page photograph of the brothers embracing with the headline “Hug of love”.
All 20 Israeli hostages have been pictured on the front page of the Sun, with the paper declaring they have been “freed from hell” after 737 days in captivity.
“Noa’s hero is home” says the Daily Mail, reporting on hostage Avinatan Or being reunited with his girlfriend and former hostage Noa Argamani, who was rescued in 2024.
And the Mirror features a poignant image of Mr Or holding his hands up in a heart, calling it a “message of love for the world”. Its headline is: “Day we thought we’d never see.”
