JERUSALEM/CAIRO: Hamas on Monday released the first seven of 20 surviving Israeli hostages in a major step toward ending two years of devastating war in Gaza. The handover coincided with the arrival of U.S. President Donald Trump in Israel, who is spearheading an internationally brokered ceasefire and will address the Knesset later in the day. The group was released in two batches, with a second group of 13 hostages transferred in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip, the public broadcaster said.
The hostages, transferred out of Gaza by the Red Cross, were received by Israeli forces at the Reim military base. Their release sparked emotional scenes in Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square, where families and supporters gathered to celebrate. “I am so excited and full of happiness. It’s hard to describe how I feel,” said Viki Cohen, whose son Nimrod was among the freed.
Israel’s military confirmed that the Red Cross was en route to collect the remaining 13 living hostages later on Monday. The bodies of 28 others killed in captivity are also expected to be handed over, alongside the release of nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees held in Israeli jails.
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The exchange marks the first phase of a wider ceasefire deal finalised last week in Egypt’s Sharm el-Sheikh. Mediated by the U.S., Egypt, Qatar and Turkey, the agreement seeks to halt hostilities and lay the groundwork for Gaza’s reconstruction. Trump is expected to present the next steps of his “20-point peace plan” at a summit later on Monday, which includes forming an international “Board of Peace” to oversee the process.
In Gaza, preparations were under way at Nasser Hospital to receive returning prisoners. “We lost our homes and our city. I hope these images mark the end of the war,” said Emad Abu Joudat, a father of six from Gaza City.
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The war, sparked by Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, has left Gaza in ruins and killed over 67,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials. While the ceasefire offers a fragile opening for peace, major issues remain unresolved, including Hamas’s disarmament, Israel’s full withdrawal from Gaza, and the long-debated question of Palestinian statehood.