The phrase "to free the hostages" means to release individuals who have been taken captive or held against their will, allowing them to regain their freedom and return to their normal lives. Full definition
The umpteenth retelling of the 1976 commando mission to free hostages in Uganda avoids all the audacious drama of the real - life events (theguardian.com)
She figures Delgado has no intention of freeing the hostages after the money transfer is made, and she's right. (slantmagazine.com)
As the deadline looms and tensions rise, an elite squadron of Israeli commandos race toward Entebbe in a daring and unprecedented attempt to free the hostages before it's too late. (focusfeatures.com)