Today is a significant day for everyone worldwide whose hearts are touched by reunions of mother and son, husband and wife, father and son, and daughter. 

I was deeply moved seeing those joyful faces on TV. 

An Israeli boy was reunited with his family, and his two young sisters jumped with joy. The younger one couldn’t stop moving and kept jumping.

An elderly Palestinian man was surrounded by his family and seemed like a lifeless figure with open eyes, possibly having been informed about the deaths in the family. His face was expressionless, and his eyes gazed into the distance.

These scenes remind us of the futility of war.

Hamas has released all 20 remaining Israeli hostages after over two years in Gaza. They were handed over to the Red Cross and then reunited with their families with assistance from the Israeli military.

On the other side, large crowds welcomed buses carrying released Palestinian prisoners as they arrived in Ramallah in the occupied West Bank. Israel states it has freed over 1,900 Palestinian prisoners as part of the Gaza ceasefire agreement, which was facilitated with assistance from the US, Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey.

Today is also the day for the Israelites to recite their prayer for peace.

Jewish Prayer for Peace - 

“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord that we may walk in His paths. 

And we shall beat our swords into ploughshares and our spears into pruning hooks.

Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.

And none shall be afraid, for the mouth of the Lord of Hosts has spoken."