Hamas has released 20 surviving Israeli hostages under a ceasefire agreement, as United States President Donald Trump and other world leaders prepare to meet for a peace summit on Gaza.
In Tel Aviv, thousands gathered in Hostages Square to support the families of those captured, breaking into tears and song as news of the releases emerged. For many, the joy of seeing loved ones freed was tempered by the grief for those who did not survive.
The releases form part of a deal brokered by President Trump, under which Israel is expected to free nearly 2 000 detainees from its prisons in exchange.
The Israeli military and security services confirmed that the International Committee of the Red Cross had taken custody of the first seven hostages before handing them over to Israeli forces in Gaza. Public broadcasters later reported the release of 13 more.
Under the terms of the ceasefire, Hamas is also required to return the remains of 27 hostages who died or were killed in captivity, along with the body of an Israeli soldier killed in Gaza in 2014. In exchange, Israel is set to release 250 security detainees, including some convicted of deadly attacks, as well as around 1 700 Palestinians detained during the recent war.
The conflict began on 7 October 2023 when Hamas militants launched an unprecedented attack on Israel, killing more than 1 200 people, most of them civilians, and seizing 251 hostages. While most hostages have since been freed through earlier truces, dozens remained in captivity until this latest agreement.
In Gaza, the ceasefire has brought temporary relief to residents after months of devastation. However, with vast areas reduced to rubble, rebuilding remains a daunting task.
Fatima Salem, who returned to her destroyed neighbourhood in Gaza City, said the area she once knew had completely changed. Despite the destruction, she described a sense of comfort at being back home, even if home was now only a pile of ruins.
President Trump’s visit to the region is aimed at reinforcing his role in securing the ceasefire and preparing for the next phase of peace talks. Speaking aboard Air Force One, he expressed optimism that the truce would hold, describing the war as “over.”
In Israel, Trump is expected to meet families of the freed hostages and address parliament before travelling to Egypt for a summit co-hosted with President Abdel Fattah al Sisi. The meeting will bring together more than 20 world leaders to support Trump’s 20-point plan for Gaza, which outlines steps toward ending the conflict and building long-term regional stability.
According to Trump, the plan includes the creation of a new governing body for Gaza, to be established under his leadership, and a multinational force coordinated through a United States-led command centre in Israel.
Despite the ceasefire, uncertainty remains over key issues such as Hamas’s disarmament and Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza. Trump said both sides, along with regional partners, had given “guarantees” for the initial stages of the deal.
Israel’s military campaign in Gaza has left at least 67 800 people dead, according to figures from the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory, which the United Nations regards as credible. More than half of the casualties are believed to be women and children.
Facebook Comments