Hamas has released the first seven of 20 surviving Israeli hostages to the Red Cross in Gaza on Monday, marking a major step in the ceasefire agreement brokered by US President Donald Trump.
The exchange triggered an emotional outpouring in Tel Aviv, where hundreds gathered in Hostages Square to celebrate the long-awaited news.
Under the US-mediated truce, Hamas is expected to release all remaining living hostages by the end of Monday in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. The development coincides with Trump’s visit to the Middle East for a peace summit in Egypt, where he aims to consolidate support for his Gaza peace plan after declaring the war “over.”
According to a joint statement by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the Israeli Security Agency (ISA), “seven hostages have been transferred into their custody, and are on their way to IDF and ISA forces in the Gaza Strip.” The statement added that Israeli forces were “prepared to receive additional hostages who are expected to be transferred to the Red Cross later on.”
In Tel Aviv, the atmosphere was charged with emotion as news of the first release spread. Hundreds of people erupted into cheers, waving flags and holding pictures of their loved ones. Among the crowd was Noga, a woman whose relative remains in captivity. “I’m torn between emotion and sadness for those who won’t be coming back,” she told AFP, her voice breaking.
The October 7, 2023 Hamas assault on Israel led to the abduction of 251 people and the deaths of 1,219 others, most of them civilians. Since then, all but 47 of the hostages have been released under previous truces, leaving dozens of families trapped in grief and uncertainty for more than two years.
In Gaza, the ceasefire has brought some respite after months of devastation. “I returned to Sheikh Radwan with my heart trembling,” said 38-year-old Fatima Salem after revisiting her shattered neighborhood in Gaza City. “My eyes kept searching for landmarks I had lost—nothing looked the same, even the neighbours’ houses were gone. Despite the exhaustion and fear, I felt like I was coming back to my safe place. I missed the smell of my home, even if it’s now just rubble. We will pitch a tent next to it and wait for reconstruction,” she added.
“War Is Over. Okay?”
Trump’s unannounced trip to Israel and Egypt comes as part of his push to solidify the ceasefire deal and project his leadership in ending the Gaza conflict. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump expressed confidence in the peace process. “I think it’s going to hold. I think people are tired of it. It’s been centuries,” he said. “The war is over. Okay? You understand that?”
Trump is expected to meet with the families of Israeli hostages before addressing the Knesset in Jerusalem. According to the office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel anticipates that “all 20 living hostages” will be released “early Monday morning.”
The US president’s visit also serves as a victory lap for the 20-point peace plan he unveiled in late September, which paved the way for the ceasefire and prisoner exchange. “Everybody’s very excited about this moment in time,” Trump said before departing from Washington.
Final Details and Ongoing Disputes
Negotiators worked late into Sunday night to finalize the details of the exchange. Two Hamas sources told AFP that the group was pressing Israel to include seven senior Palestinian leaders on the release list, including Marwan Barghouti and Ahmad Saadat—names that Israel has previously rejected. Despite these disputes, Hamas confirmed it had “completed all preparations” for handing over the living hostages.
Under the terms of the Trump-brokered deal, Hamas will also return the remains of Israeli captives, including a soldier killed in the 2014 Gaza war. Meanwhile, Israel will release approximately 2,000 Palestinian detainees, 250 of whom are classified as security prisoners convicted of killing Israelis. About 1,700 of those slated for release were arrested in Gaza during the current conflict.
The Sharm el-Sheikh Peace Summit
Following his visit to Israel, Trump will travel to Egypt’s Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, where he and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi will co-host a summit involving more than 20 world leaders. The meeting is intended to bolster Trump’s peace roadmap and pave the way for what he calls “a new era of Middle East stability.”
A key aspect of the plan involves the creation of a new governing authority in Gaza—one that Trump says he would personally oversee—alongside a US-led multinational force to replace Israeli troops as they gradually withdraw. However, questions remain over Hamas’s refusal to disarm and Israel’s reluctance to commit to a full withdrawal.
Trump claimed he had “guarantees” from both sides and regional stakeholders regarding the next phases of the deal. He also hinted that he would be “proud” to visit Gaza himself, though he did not specify when such a trip might take place.
According to figures from Gaza’s health ministry, at least 67,806 people have died during Israel’s campaign in the territory. The United Nations considers the figures credible, noting that more than half of the victims are women and children.
What you should know
Hamas has begun releasing the final group of Israeli hostages under a US-brokered ceasefire, marking the most significant progress since the war began in 2023.
The releases coincide with President Donald Trump’s visit to the region for a peace summit in Egypt, where he aims to cement his role as a key mediator in ending the two-year Gaza conflict and shaping the region’s future political landscape.
