Hamas released all 20 Israeli live hostages to the Red Cross on Monday as part of the new Gaza ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. The hostages were released in two phases. In the first phase, seven hostages were released in the morning and in the second phase, 13 more were released.
They will be returning home after two years of deadly war. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump – the mediator of the ceasefire – arrived in Israel ahead of his scheduled visit to Egypt for the Gaza peace summit. He is set to deliver an address at the Israeli parliament.
“The war is over. This is a great day. This is a new beginning,” Trump said welcoming the ceasefire. He further asserted that Hamas would comply with the plan to disarm.
As part of the agreement, 20 living Israeli hostages are to be released in exchange for more than 1,900 Palestinian prisoners held in Israel. With the release of first seven, now 13 more Israeli hostages are set to return in this first phase, including Evyatar David, Alon Ohel, Avinatan Or, Ariel Cunio, David Cunio, Nimrod Cohen, Bar Kuperstein, Yosef Chaim Ohana, Segev Kalfon, Elkana Bohbot, Maxim Herkin, Eitan Horn, and Rom Braslavski.
