An Israeli hostage’s father who was paralysed and non-verbal has miraculously learnt how to walk and talk again so that he can hug his son and tell him how much he loves him when he is released by Hamas.
Bar Kuperstein, 23, from Holon, was working at the Nova music festival on October 7 when he was kidnapped by terrorists who launched an enormous assault, killing 378 partygoers and taking 44 people into Gaza.
His family called him as sirens began sounding but hours later found videos and photos of him tied up on the ground by Hamas.
He had been helping those shot and injured by the terrorists rather than escaping himself, other survivors of the attack told his family.
His father Tal Kuperstein, who suffered a cerebral incident during an operation after a car crash prior to October 7, has learnt how to walk and speak again with the help of a physical therapist ahead of his son’s release.
Footage posted on social media shows the father taking short steps while clutching on to a walker in what will be a surprise to his son.
Mr Kuperstein’s sister, Ora, said the father feels ‘okay, he’s not excited, not yet’ but has ‘tears of happiness’.
In July, Hamas released a short propaganda clip of Bar and fellow captive Maxim Herkin, which provided a sign of life.
An Israeli hostage’s father who was paralysed and non-verbal has miraculously learnt how to walk and talk again ahead of his release
Tal Kuperstein suffered a cerebral incident during an operation after a car crash prior to October 7 but has learnt how to walk again so he can greet his son
Bar Kuperstein, 23, from Holon, was working at the Nova music festival on October 7 when he was kidnapped
Bar is expected to be released along with the remaining living hostages on Monday and is said to be in a Red Cross vehicle which will return to an Israeli military base in Re’im near the border with Gaza before he is taken to hospital.
Hostage Elkana Bohbot has reportedly called the family to say that he is in the same vehicle him.
The 14 remaining living hostages are set to be released within the next two hours.
A Red Cross convoy is on its way to pick up a second group of Israeli hostages to be freed by Hamas as part of a Gaza ceasefire deal Monday, the Israeli military said.
An army statement said the handover would take place at ‘an additional meeting point in the southern Gaza Strip, where several hostages will be handed over to the Red Cross’.
Families and friends of the hostages broke out into wild cheers as Israeli television channels announced that their loved ones were being released.
Tens of thousands of Israelis were also watching the transfers at public screenings across the country, with a major event being held in Tel Aviv.
The historic exchange is part of a Donald Trump-brokered deal between Israel and Hamas that aims to bring an end to the devastating two-year war.
British-Israeli Emily Damari, freed from captivity last January, was seen watching her best friends Gali and Ziv being released in a private viewing session with close family and friends.
Family and friends of Israeli hostage Bar Kupershtein celebrate as they await the release. Father Tal is pictured sitting second from right
Tens of thousands of Israelis were also watching the transfers at public screenings across the country, with a major event being held in Tel Aviv
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomes U.S. President Donald Trump at Ben Gurion International Airport, amid a U.S.-brokered prisoner-hostage swap and ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, in Lod, Israel, October 13, 2025
She was sat beside Romi Gonen who was held with her for much of their time in captivity.
Dozens of friends of Evyatar David have been gathered together near Tel Aviv since 8am on Sunday and have not slept.
Yuval Ovadia, 24, student from Tel Aviv, told the Daily Mail: ‘I have been here since 8am. It’s such a stressful time, so having everyone together helps
‘It’s friends from all around – we met because of this situation.’
Guy Melamed, 24, student from Zippori, northern Israel, said: ‘Some of us have been here since we heard the news at 8am yesterday. We knew it was happening in the next 24 hours so we said we need to meet up.
‘We needed to be together to be here for each other. As much as you want to fall asleep, it’s the anticipation. It’s just too much – two years we have been waiting for this moment.
‘It’s very exciting.’
Evyatar was due for release last January but was instead cruelly forced to watch others released before being taken back into captivity.
Hamas then released horrifying footage of his starved body as he was forced to dig his own grave in a tunnel in Gaza.
Seven Israeli hostages have been released from captivity
A Red Cross vehicle transports hostages, held in Gaza since the deadly October 7, 2023 attack
Hamas confirmed this morning the names of the 20 remaining living hostages that will be released in return for over 1,900 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
Earlier on Monday, the Red Cross said they were beginning the process of Hamas handing over the detainees.
‘The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has started a multi-phase operation to facilitate the release and transfer of hostages and detainees as part of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas,’ they said in a statement.
The IDF announced Monday morning that the Red Cross is headed to a meeting point in Northern Gaza ‘where several hostages will be transferred into their custody.’
They added that they’re prepared to receive additional hostages who are expected to be transferred to the Red Cross later on.
Hamas confirmed the names of the living hostages who will be returned and the over 1,700 Palestinian prisoners who will be freed.
