New Delhi, October 13, 2025 – Prime Minister Narendra Modi has welcomed the release of all Israeli hostages who were held in Gaza for over two years, acknowledging the courage of their families and the efforts of global leaders in securing their release. The hostages were freed as part of a ceasefire agreement.
In a statement released today, PM Modi specifically credited the "unwavering peace efforts" of U.S. President Donald Trump and the "strong resolve" of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for bringing the crisis to an end. He further expressed India's support for President Trump's continued efforts to establish peace in the region.
"We welcome the release of all hostages after over two years of captivity," PM Modi stated in a post on X (formerly Twitter). "Their freedom stands as a tribute to the courage of their families, the unwavering peace efforts of President Trump, and the strong resolve of Prime Minister Netanyahu. We support President Trump's sincere efforts to bring peace to the region".
The release of the hostages marks a potential turning point in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which escalated following the Hamas attacks on southern Israel on October 7, 2023. These attacks resulted in the deaths of over 1,200 people, predominantly civilians, and the abduction of 251 individuals.
Hamas freed the last 20 living Israeli hostages. As part of the ceasefire deal, Israel has released more than 1,900 Palestinian prisoners.
Celebrations erupted in both the West Bank and Gaza, as released prisoners were greeted by cheering crowds. In Tel Aviv, families and friends of the freed hostages gathered, expressing their joy and relief.
Effie Defrin, an IDF spokesperson, described the release as a "defining moment". "A moment that belongs to the people of Israel and to all those who believe in humanity," Defrin stated as the nation celebrated the release.
PM Modi had previously lauded President Trump's leadership in facilitating negotiations, viewing the progress in hostage release as "a significant step forward" toward a lasting and equitable peace.
