Gaza Deal Takes Effect: Hamas Begins Releasing Hostages As Trump Lands In Israel For High-Stakes Diplomacy
Seven Israeli hostages were handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross on Monday morning, marking the first wave of releases under a new Gaza ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas and signaling the most tangible step yet toward ending two years of war. The releases came as US President Donald Trump, who mediated the truce, arrived in Israel ahead of a major peace summit in Egypt, where more than 20 world leaders are expected to finalize a framework for Gaza’s post-war future.
The first set of freed hostages included Eitan Mor, Gali and Ziv Berman, Matan Angrest, Omri Miran, Guy Gilboa Dalal, and Alon Ahel. Under the deal, 20 living Israeli hostages will be released in exchange for more than 1,900 Palestinian prisoners, with a further 13 Israelis slated for release later in the day. In emotional scenes preceding the handover, some hostages were able to briefly video call their families, offering the first direct contact since their abductions in October 2023.
Across Israel, crowds gathered in public squares and outside military bases to watch live broadcasts; cheers, tears, and the blast of a shofar greeted the news.The Israel Defense Forces said the seven were being escorted home by IDF and internal security personnel under Operation “Returning Home,” and urged the public to respect the privacy of the returning hostages and to rely on official updates. The Prime Minister’s Office prepared personalized reception kits for each—clothing, personal effects, and devices—alongside a handwritten note from Benjamin and Sara Netanyahu reading, “On behalf of all the people of Israel, welcome back! We waited for you, hugging you.” Authorities also confirmed preparations for the return of the bodies of slain hostages by noon, alongside two rounds of live returns.Speaking aboard Air Force One en route to Tel Aviv, President Trump declared “the war is over,” praised Qatar’s role in brokering the ceasefire, and said some releases could come ahead of schedule.
He said a “Board of Peace” would be set up to oversee Gaza’s reconstruction, describing the enclave as a “demolition site.” After addressing the Knesset, he will travel to Sharm el-Sheikh to co-chair a summit with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, where leaders from France, the UK, Italy, Turkey, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, India, and top EU and UN officials will discuss security, governance, and funding for rebuilding.While the truce has held for three consecutive days, key questions remain unsettled. Negotiators have yet to agree on the extent of Israel’s troop withdrawals, the architecture of Gaza’s post-war governance, and the disarmament of Hamas—demands that have met firm resistance from the group.
Israel, for its part, has ruled out resuming direct responsibility for Gaza’s civil administration even as it coordinates the exchange and hostage returns. The Israel Prison Service has transferred detainees in preparation for releases, including 250 Palestinian prisoners in the initial swap, with authorities signaling broader releases of detainees from Gaza held since October 7.In Gaza and southern Israel, the ceasefire’s human stakes were on display as families prepared for reunions and communities braced for the return of those who did not survive.
Israeli flags rose along routes designated for the returning hostages, a symbolic gesture meant to mark not just safe passage but a collective step toward recovery. In a televised address, Netanyahu projected optimism, calling the moment “the beginning of a new path—a path of building, healing, and, I hope, uniting hearts,” while cautioning that “the campaign is not over” and security threats persist.For now, the day’s releases offer a rare point of consensus: a pause long enough to bring some loved ones home, and a window for diplomacy that could shape what comes next. Whether it opens into a durable peace will hinge on the answers negotiators find in Egypt—and on whether a fragile calm can withstand the unresolved questions still on the table.
