Hamas releases living hostages, Israel releases Palestinian prisoners as part of ceasefire
By WAFAA SHURAFA, SAMY MAGDY and MELANIE LIDMAN, Associated Press
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Hamas on Monday freed all 20 living hostages held in Gaza, while Israel began freeing hundreds of Palestinian prisoners as part of a ceasefire ending two years of war that battered the territory, killed tens of thousands of Palestinians and left scores of prisoners in Hamas hands.
The hostages, all men, returned to Israel, where they will reunite with their families and undergo medical examinations. The bodies of the other 28 dead hostages are also expected to be handed over as part of the deal, although the exact timing remains unclear.
Buses carrying dozens of freed Palestinian prisoners arrived in Ramallah, in the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip, as Israel began releasing more than 1,900 prisoners and detainees under the ceasefire agreement.
Cheerful crowds greeted buses arriving in Ramallah from Ofer prison in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. At least one bus also crossed into the Gaza Strip, the Hamas-run Prisoners Bureau said.
While major questions remain about the future of Hamas and Gaza, the exchange of hostages and prisoners has raised hopes of ending the deadliest war ever between Israel and the group. The ceasefire should also be accompanied by an influx of humanitarian aid into Gaza, parts of which are experiencing famine.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged that he was “committed to this peace” in a speech to the Knesset, the Israeli parliament.
U.S. President Donald Trump is also expected to address the Knesset and then attend a summit to discuss the proposed U.S. deal and postwar plans with other leaders.
The war began when Hamas launched a surprise terrorist attack in southern Israel on October 7, 2023, in which some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were killed and 251 taken hostage.
In the ensuing Israeli offensive, more than 67,000 Palestinians were killed, according to Gaza’s health ministry, which does not differentiate between civilians and fighters but says about half of the dead were women and children. The ministry is part of the Hamas-led government, and the UN and many independent experts consider its figures the most reliable estimate of war casualties.
The toll is expected to rise as bodies are extracted from the rubble made inaccessible by the fighting.
The war has destroyed large swaths of Gaza and displaced around 90% of its approximately 2 million residents. It also sparked other conflicts in the region, sparked global protests and led to allegations of genocide that Israel denies.
“Much of Gaza is a wasteland,” U.N. humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher told the AP on Sunday.
Hostages released
In Tel Aviv, families and friends of the hostages gathered in a square burst into joy when Israeli television channels announced that the first group of hostages was in the custody of the Red Cross. Tens of thousands of Israelis watched the transfers at public screenings across the country.
Israel released the first photos of the freed hostages, including one showing twins Gali and Ziv Berman, 28, kissing while reunited. Previously released hostages said the Kfar Aza twins were being held separately.
Photos of the first seven hostages showed them pale but less gaunt than some of the hostages released in January.
Earlier, as Palestinians awaited the release of hundreds of prisoners held by Israel, an armored vehicle flying an Israeli flag fired tear gas and rubber bullets into the crowd. As the drones buzzed above us, the group dispersed.
The tear gas followed the circulation of a leaflet warning that anyone supporting what it called “terrorist organizations” risked arrest. The Israeli military did not respond to questions about the flyer, which The Associated Press obtained at the scene.
Among the released prisoners are 250 people sentenced to life for attacks against Israelis, in addition to 1,700 people captured in Gaza during the war and held without charge. They will be returned to the West Bank or Gaza or sent into exile.
A painful chapter
The return of the hostages closes a painful chapter for Israel. Since they were captured in the attack that started the war, television news broadcasts have marked their days in captivity and Israelis have worn yellow pins and ribbons as a sign of solidarity. Tens of thousands of people have joined their families in weekly protests demanding their release.
As the war dragged on, protesters accused Netanyahu of dragging his feet for political purposes, while accusing Hamas of intransigence. Last week, under intense international pressure and Israel’s growing isolation, the bitter enemies agreed to the ceasefire.
It is still unclear when the remains of the 28 dead hostages will be returned. An international task force will work to locate deceased hostages who are not returned within 72 hours, said Gal Hirsch, Israel’s coordinator for hostages and the missing.
Trump in Israel and Egypt
Trump arrived in Israel on Monday, where he was scheduled to speak in the Knesset, the Israeli parliament. Vice President JD Vance said Trump would likely meet with newly released hostages.
“The war is over,” Trump told reporters as he left — even though his ceasefire agreement leaves many unanswered questions about the future of Hamas and Gaza.
One of the thorniest is Israel’s insistence that a weakened Hamas disarm. Hamas refuses to do so and wants to ensure that Israel completely withdraws its troops from Gaza.
So far, the Israeli army has withdrawn from much of Gaza City, the southern city of Khan Younis and other areas. Troops remain in most of the southern city of Rafah, in towns in Gaza’s far north and in the broad swath along the Gaza-Israel border.
The future governance of Gaza also remains uncertain. Under the U.S. plan, an international body will govern the territory, overseeing Palestinian technocrats managing daily affairs. Hamas has said the government in Gaza should be developed among Palestinians.
Later Monday, Trump will travel to Egypt, where he and Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi will lead a summit with leaders of more than 20 countries on the future of Gaza and the Middle East as a whole.
Mahmoud Abbas, head of the internationally recognized Palestinian Authority, will attend, according to a judge and Abbas adviser, Mahmoud al-Habbash.
The Egyptian presidency said Netanyahu would also attend, but the Israeli leader’s office later said he would not do so due to a Jewish holiday.
The plan envisions a possible role for the Palestinian Authority – something Netanyahu has long opposed. But that requires the authority, which administers parts of the West Bank, to embark on a vast reform program that could take years.
The plan also calls for the presence of an Arab-led international security force in Gaza, as well as Palestinian police trained by Egypt and Jordan. He said Israeli forces would leave the areas as they deployed. About 200 American troops are now in Israel monitoring the ceasefire.
The plan also mentions the possibility of a future Palestinian state, another setback for Netanyahu.
Magdy reported from Cairo and Lidman from Jerusalem. Josef Federman, Associated Press writer in Truro, Massachusetts; Bassem Mroue in Beirut; Jalal Bwaitel in Ramallah, West Bank, and Sam Mednick in Tel Aviv, Israel contributed to this report.
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