Hamas to Release Israeli Hostages From Gaza
As the fragile ceasefire in Gaza holds, Israel expects the release of all remaining Israeli hostages, including its last 20 living hostages, held by Hamas on Monday morning, as part of the first phase of a historic peace plan brokered by the United States and led by President Donald Trump.
Red Cross teams have already begun recovering the captives in Khan Younis, with the first batch of seven handed over early this morning, and the full transfer is expected at noon local time, marking an emotional culmination after more than two years of anguish since the October 7, 2023 terrorist attacks that claimed the lives of 1,200 Israelis and saw 251 people kidnapped as hostages.
In exchange, Israel will release around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, including 250 serving long sentences and 1,700 detained during the conflict, alongside the return of 28 hostage bodies, although the recovery of the remains of the remaining deceased captives could extend beyond today.
Trump will land at Ben Gurion Airport and will be greeted upon arrival by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli President Isaac Herzog.
