Champagne bottle opened, sweets distributed, tears of joy tinged with laughter, long embraces bring to fore relief after two years of conflict

For 24 months, it's been Israel's ground zero of anguish, uncertainty, torment and despair. But early Thursday, the central Tel Aviv area that's become known as Hostages Square was a burst of unfettered jubilation.

A Champagne bottle was popped open to cheers from the crowd. Sweets were doled out. Tears of joy mixed with laughter and long embraces as the news sunk in: The struggle to free Israeli captives held in Gaza appears to finally be coming to a close.

"Matan is coming home!" yelled Einav Zangauker, arguably the most prominent face of the 2-year-long campaign to free the hostages, referring to her captive son. Her arms raised to the sky, she shouted out "Thank you!" as a crowd of supporters, families of hostages, and former hostages freed earlier in the war filled the square. "I want to smell his smell," she told reporters of her son. "If I have one dream, it is seeing Matan sleep in his own bed."  

Central to the celebrations on Thursday was Trump himself, whom many families of hostages and many Israelis credit with pressing their leader, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, to agree to a deal. A person donned a costume of Trump and waved American flags, families expressed effusive thanks for the American leader and some chanted that he deserved a Nobel Peace Prize. But above all else, the sadness that has settled over Israel since October 7, 2023, began to dissipate as the square came to life under a night sky. 

'All of Gaza is happy'

"Thank God for the cease-fire, the end of bloodshed and killing," said Abdul Majeed Abd Rabbo in Khan Younis in southern Gaza. "I am not the only one happy, all of the Gaza Strip is happy, all the Arab people, all of the world is happy with the cease-fire and the end of bloodshed."

Everybody is liking me now: Netanyahu

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu told US President Donald Trump that everyone was "loving Israel again" after the announcement of the hostage release and the Gaza ceasefire deal. The Israeli leader said this during a phone call with Trump. "It (the deal) has brought the whole world together. It's amazing. I've never seen anything - it's so good for Israel," Trump told Fox News host Sean Hannity during a phone call interview, where he also recalled his conversation with Netanyahu.  Trump told Hannity that 'Bibi' (Netanyahu's preferred nickname) called him after the announcement of the Gaza deal. "He said, 'I can't believe it. Everybody is liking me now, meaning him. I said, 'More importantly, they are loving Israel again,' and they really are." 

Secret note from Rubio to POTUS 

US President Donald Trump was two hours into a roundtable in the White House's Blue Room on Wednesday when Secretary of State Marco Rubio caught his eye. Rubio told Trump he had some news for him. Rubio whispered something in Trump's ear before handing him a handwritten note. An AP photographer zoomed in on the handwriting that read, "Very close. You need to approve a Truth Social post soon so you can announce the deal first." Trump told the gathering, "I was just given a note by the secretary of state saying that we're very close to a deal on the Middle East, and they're gonna need me pretty quickly." Still,  Trump continued with his engagements, making Rubio visibly anxious. 

World leaders express hope

United Nations

"The UN will support the full implementation of the agreement and will scale up the delivery of sustained and principled humanitarian relief, and we will advance recovery and reconstruction efforts in Gaza," UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said. 

Canada

"I am relieved that the hostages will soon be reunited with their families," Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney posted on social media. "After years of intense suffering, peace finally feels attainable," he said. 

Australia

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the agreement as a "ray of light." The announcement brought "hope that after eight decades of conflict and terror, we can break this cycle of violence and build something better," he said.

United Kingdom

 "I welcome the news that a deal has been reached on the first stage of President Trump's peace plan for Gaza," said  British PM Keir Starmer. 

France

French President Emmanuel Macron said the agreement is a "great hope for the hostages and their families, for the Palestinians in Gaza, and for the entire region." 

Germany

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz welcomed the agreement and said he was hopeful for a full deal this week.

Italy

Italy's Premier Giorgia Meloni hailed the deal, calling it "extraordinary news." "This agreement and the broader path outlined by the Trump plan constitute a unique opportunity to end this conflict that must be seized," Meloni said.