In a moment signaling renewed diplomatic optimism in the Middle East, Hamas on Monday began releasing Israeli hostages to representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Gaza. The release marks a significant breakthrough under a ceasefire deal mediated by United States President Donald Trump, ending nearly two years of war between Israel and Hamas.
According to official updates, the first seven of 20 surviving Israeli hostages were handed over to the Red Cross in Gaza, a move that sparked scenes of joy and relief in Tel Aviv. Large crowds gathered in Hostages Square, waving flags and cheering as news of the first release filtered through.
Under the US-brokered truce, Hamas is expected to release all surviving hostages on Monday in exchange for Palestinian prisoners detained in Israel. The arrangement represents a major component of Trump’s peace plan aimed at restoring stability and rebuilding diplomatic trust in the conflict-ravaged region.
“According to information provided by the Red Cross, seven hostages have been transferred into their custody, and are on their way to Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and Israel Security Agency (ISA) personnel in the Gaza Strip,” a joint statement from the Israeli military and security services confirmed. The statement added that the IDF was “prepared to receive additional hostages expected to be transferred later in the day.”
In Tel Aviv, hundreds gathered in solidarity with hostage families. Amid tears and jubilation, Noga, one of the supporters, expressed a mix of relief and grief. “I’m torn between emotion and sadness for those who won’t be coming back,” she said.
The hostage crisis began on October 7, 2023, when militants abducted 251 individuals during Hamas’s surprise attack on Israel — an assault that claimed the lives of 1,219 people, mostly civilians. Over the months, several truce agreements secured the release of many captives, leaving only 47 before the latest deal.
Meanwhile, residents in Gaza also expressed cautious relief as the ceasefire took hold. Much of the enclave lies in ruins after years of bombardment. “I returned to Sheikh Radwan with my heart trembling,” said 38-year-old Fatima Salem. “My eyes kept searching for landmarks I had lost. Despite the exhaustion and fear, I felt like I was coming back to my safe place. We will pitch a tent next to what’s left of our home and wait for reconstruction.”
Trump Declares ‘The War Is Over’
As the ceasefire took effect, President Trump traveled to the region to attend a peace summit aimed at consolidating the truce and setting the stage for a lasting peace framework. The American leader described his trip as “a very special visit” and insisted that “the war is over,” emphasizing that “people are tired of it. It’s been centuries.”
Under his proposed peace roadmap, once all hostages are released, Israel will reciprocate by freeing approximately 2,000 Palestinian detainees. A spokesperson from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed that all 20 surviving hostages were expected to reach Red Cross custody “early Monday morning.”
Trump’s upcoming meetings with Israeli officials and hostage families will precede his address to the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem. Later, he is scheduled to travel to Cairo, Egypt, for a high-level peace summit co-hosted with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and more than 20 world leaders.
“Everybody’s very excited about this moment in time,” Trump told reporters before departing from Washington. “It’s a chance for a new chapter in Middle East peace.”
Negotiations and Final Details
Negotiations over the prisoner exchange were finalized late Sunday, according to sources close to Hamas, who revealed that the group had “completed all preparations” to hand over all surviving hostages to Israeli authorities. Israel, however, reportedly resisted the inclusion of certain senior Palestinian leaders on the release list.
Hamas is also expected to return the remains of a soldier killed during the 2014 Gaza conflict. Among the 2,000 detainees to be released by Israel, around 250 are security prisoners convicted of serious offenses, while 1,700 were detained during recent military operations in Gaza.
Trump’s plan further proposes that as Israel conducts a partial withdrawal from Gaza, a multinational peacekeeping force led by the United States will assume security operations to maintain stability. According to his framework, a new governing authority for Gaza — temporarily under Trump’s oversight — will be established “very quickly.”
Human Cost and the Path Ahead
The war has claimed an estimated 67,806 lives in Gaza, according to the territory’s health ministry, a figure the United Nations deems credible. While the data does not specify civilian and combatant figures, more than half of the victims are reported to be women and children.
For many, the ceasefire represents both an end and a beginning — a fragile peace resting on decades of mistrust. Trump’s intervention has temporarily halted violence, but the real test lies in sustaining dialogue and rebuilding both nations’ shattered trust.
As one observer in Tel Aviv noted, “Peace is not just the absence of war. It’s the presence of hope.”
Okay News reports.
