ST. LOUIS – An emotional day across Israel as recently-released hostages return home from Gaza after more than two years in captivity, with scenes of tearful reunions playing out over and over.

As part of the ceasefire agreement between Israeli and Palestinian leadership, Hamas also began releasing the bodies of the 28 dead hostages. In exchange, hundreds of Palestinian prisoners were freed. 

The move will end a chapter of anguish and violence that gripped families across the world. Here at home, FOX 2 News spoke with the Jewish Federation of St. Louis and elected leaders as emotion, pride, and hope ripple through the local community.

Pictures released by the Israel Defense Forces show hostages, finally free, reunited with families who never stopped praying for their return, sparking an eruption of joy across Israel.

That wave of emotion reached all the way to St. Louis at the Jewish Federation of St. Louis, where leaders say the pictures cut straight to the heart.

“After living through the last two years and watching the footage of them being abducted on Oct. 7, 2023, it finally felt like I had a moment to breathe. I know the community is feeling that way as well,” Danny Cohn said.

But the federation also urges reflection, recognizing those still missing and honoring the costs paid.

“It’s a big, collective sigh of relief and cautious optimism. The hostages have been returned. Still 28 waiting to come home,” Cohn said. “This is just the first point of the peace plan, so I think we are waiting to see how the other 19 points play out.”

On Monday, U.S. Senator Eric Schmitt, R-Missouri, said the moment transcends symbolism.

“With those hostages going home, that’s a big thing for those families. I think it’s a breakthrough,” he said. “The second piece to all this now is the governance, which is more complicated, but I think it’s important we recognize what an achievement this is.”

“We have seen numerous attempts over the last decades for the U.S. to lead the coalitions to get someplace in the realm of peace, and I think that now we just have to make sure that the last two years were not in vein and we are building peaceful co-existence for everyone in the Middle East,” Cohn said.
 
President Donald Trump received a standing ovation in the Knesset—Israel’s parliament—earlier Monday, calling the peace plan, “The dawn of a new Middle East.”

He told Israel’s assembled leaders they must work toward peace after the U.S. helped broker the ceasefire deal with Hamas.