Family and friends of freed hostages await their return with cheers, anxiety

Jessica Steinberg, The Times of Israel's culture and lifestyles editor, covers the Sabra scene from south to north and back to the center

Family and friends of Israeli hostage Bar Kuperstein await his release from Hamas captivity in Holon, October 13, 2025 (Yossi Aloni/Flash90)
Family and friends of Israeli hostage Bar Kuperstein await his release from Hamas captivity in Holon, October 13, 2025 (Yossi Aloni/Flash90)

The family and friends of hostage Segev Kalfon, taken from the Nova rave, stand and cheer his expected release and homecoming in front of the family’s bakery in the southern town of Dimona.

Tal Kuperstein, father of hostage Bar Kuperstein, also taken hostage from the Nova, sits and awaits his son at Re’im. Kuperstein, who suffered a cerebral incident during an operation following a car accident prior to October 7, has worked to walk and speak again in anticipation of his son’s release home.

He tells his sister, Ora, that he feels “okay, he’s not excited, not yet,” during a conversation on Channel 12. He has “tears of happiness.”

Friends and supporters of Matan Angrest celebrate his release by Hamas with green flares for his beloved Maccabi Haifa soccer team on October 13, 2025 (Screen grab/Channel 12)

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