Israelis react as they look ahead to the discharge of Israelis nonetheless held in Gaza at Hostage Sq. in Tel Aviv early on Oct. 13, 2025.
Ahmad Gharabli/AFP by way of Getty Photographs
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Ahmad Gharabli/AFP by way of Getty Photographs
TEL AVIV — Hamas on Monday started releasing the ultimate Israeli hostages held captive in Gaza, a serious milestone within the efforts to finish the devastating two years of struggle within the Palestinian territory.
Hamas initially handed over seven of the 20 dwelling hostages to the Worldwide Committee of the Crimson Cross, which in flip offered them to the Israeli navy, in line with a press release by the navy. The remaining 13 hostages had been anticipated to be launched shortly.
The navy is flying the hostages by helicopter from southern Israel to hospitals within the Tel Aviv space. All of the hostages are males, principally of their 20s and 30s.
The hostage handover ignited celebrations in Israel. Tens of 1000’s gathered in Hostages Sq., the plaza in Tel Aviv that has been the positioning of vigils all through the struggle. The group roared in jubilation and waved blue-and-white Israeli flags.
Hamas can be required at hand over 28 our bodies of useless hostages, although the Palestinian group says it has not been capable of find all of them. In flip, Israel is making ready at hand over almost 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees as it’s required to do underneath the truce introduced final week. These exchanges are anticipated to start later Monday.
The fast-moving developments got here as President Trump headed to Israel. The president pressed onerous for the ceasefire deal and is broadly credited for getting it to the end line. Trump is scheduled to satisfy briefly with relations of the hostages after which deal with Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, in Jerusalem.
Shortly afterward, Trump is ready to fly to Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, the place the truce was negotiated final week, to participate in a proper signing ceremony.
On one other entrance, elevated help is starting to movement into Gaza, the place necessities have been in critically brief provide all through the struggle. Lots of of vehicles with help entered southern Gaza from Egypt on Sunday. The territory is in pressing want of meals, water, drugs, gas and tents.
Check for the ceasefire
The trade of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners is the primary main check of the ceasefire and was a number one demand by each the Israelis and Palestinians.
If either side full the complete trade as deliberate, it should assist enhance the ambiance for the numerous robust challenges forward.
Nonetheless, many obstacles stay. Israeli troops nonetheless maintain roughly half of Gaza and there is not any timetable for his or her full withdrawal.
The ceasefire additionally requires Hamas to surrender its weapons and play no position sooner or later governance of Gaza. Hamas has not publicly agreed to this, and Hamas civilian police have already re-emerged on the streets of the territory. There’s presently no different Palestinian group in Gaza that’s able to ruling the territory.
The ceasefire requires a bunch of Palestinian technocrats to run Gaza on an interim foundation, however they haven’t been named and it’s not clear what sort of authority they might have, if any.
