Hostage father, who opposed earlier deals, expresses thanks over son’s return

The family of released hostage Eitan Mor offers gratitude to God, the IDF, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, US President Donald Trump and others involved in the hostage release following their reunification with him after two years in Hamas captivity.

“In praise and thanksgiving to God, we are happy to announce that our Eitan is home!” the parents write on social media, along with a photo of them hugging their son. “Our beloved Eitan, how much we have waited for you, how much we have waited to finally see you after two years. We saw you for the last time today, on [the final day of the Sukkot holiday] two years ago, and today we embrace you back into the family.”

*הודעה ממשפחתו של איתן מור ששוחרר כעת אחרי שנתיים במרתפי החמאס:*

"זה היום עשה השם נגילה ונשמחה בו" (תהלים קיח, כד).

בשבח והודיה להקב"ה אנו שמחים להודיע שאיתן שלנו בבית!

איתן אהוב שלנו כמה חיכינו לך, כמה חיכינו לראות אותך סוף סוף אחרי שנתיים. 
ראינו אותך בפעם האחרונה היום,… pic.twitter.com/IgS5Spmgjv

— פורום תקווה (@forum_tikva) October 13, 2025

Mor’s father, Zvika, has led the Tikva Forum, a small group of hostage families who have opposed hostage deals that would secure the release of only some of the hostages in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian security prisoners and temporary ceasefires in Gaza. He has said he was unhappy about the price Israel had to pay to get the hostages back in the current deal, and had claimed his son shared his view.

However, upon seeing his son alive, he expressed nothing but gratitude.

“This is the day the Lord has made known to us, and we will rejoice in it,” he writes on social media, quoting a Psalm said during Sukkot prayers.