'My life, my hero': Gaza hostages reunite with families after two years

Families say it ends "two years of hell" and a journey of "healing and rehabilitation" will now begin.

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"You're my life," she exclaims, hugging him tightly in footage filmed by the Israeli military. "My life. My hero. Come, come."

Matan was one of 20 living hostages remaining in Gaza after being taken during the Hamas-led attacks of 7 October 2023, who were freed on Monday after two years in captivity.

His mother, Einav, has campaigned fiercely for Matan's return. She became among the best-known faces of the movement, and demanded the Israeli government agree a hostage exchange with Hamas.

Last week, she and her daughter lit fireworks in Hostages Square in Tel Aviv to celebrate the ceasefire deal that had been agreed between Israel and Hamas as part of Donald Trump's peace plan.