Hamas releases all living hostages to Israel
- Trump's arrival in Israel
- Trip to Egypt
- Red Cross as the main channel for exchange
- ‘The war is over’
Following the ceasefire and partial withdrawal of the Israel Defence Forces (IDF), Hamas has begun the process of releasing the hostages kidnapped on 7 October 2023.
Initially, the terrorist group released 20 hostages alive, in two groups of 7 and 13, out of the 48 who were still being held in the Gaza Strip. The rest, who are believed to have died or been killed by Hamas, will be released later. In return, the State of Israel will release more than 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, in batches of between 150 and 220 prisoners.
The release of hostages has been confirmed by the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades as part of the peace agreement established with Israel.
Once in Israeli territory, the 20 living hostages will be transferred to Sheba, Beilinson and Ichilov hospitals, which will receive ten, five and five, respectively.
The exchange will take place at two of the main points connecting the State of Israel with the Palestinian enclave: the Netzarim corridor and the Jan Yunis area, where most of the Gaza refugee camps are located.
The first hostages to be released and who are already in Israeli territory are: Matan Angrest (22); Ziv Berman (27); Gali Berman (27); Alon Ohel (23); Eitan Mor (24); Omri Miran (47); and Guy Gilboa Dalal (23). These hostages have already been able to communicate with their families, with whom they will be reunited after undergoing medical tests.
Hours later, the remaining 13 hostages were released. They are:
Nimrod Cohen (20); Rom Braslavski (21); Bar Kupershtein (23); Evyatar David (24); Maxim Herkin (37); Elkana Bohbot (36); Segev Kalfon (27); Yosef Haim Ohana (24); Matan Zangauker (25); Ariel (28); David Cunio (35); Avinatan Or (32); and Eitan Horn (38).
According to the terrorist group Hamas, there are no more hostages alive in Palestinian territory.
Trump's arrival in Israel
US President Donald Trump, the architect of the peace plan accepted by all parties and neighbouring Arab and Muslim countries, is expected to be present in the region for the second handover of hostages.
The latest negotiations in Egypt have been decisive in the final approval of the release of hostages and Palestinian prisoners by Hamas and Israel.
Trump's arrival in Tel Aviv, the US president's first visit to the Jewish state, will bring the city to a complete standstill due to security measures.
Once on Israeli territory, Trump will meet with the families of the hostages and deliver a speech to the Knesset, the name given to the Israeli parliament.
Trip to Egypt
The US president will then travel to the Egyptian city of Sharm el-Sheikh to continue negotiations on the other points of the peace plan and ensure that both sides will not violate the approved conditions.
During the talks, the four guarantor countries (the United States, Qatar, Egypt and Turkey) are expected to consolidate compliance with all the agreed points.
These negotiations will not include members of Hamas or representatives of Israel, but will include the Palestinian Authority, represented by its president, Mahmoud Abbas.
Red Cross as the main channel for exchange
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has reported that a total of 148 hostages from Gaza and 1,931 Palestinian detainees have been released today since the attacks on 7 October.
"Starting today, ICRC teams will receive the hostages held in Gaza and hand them over to the Israeli authorities. In a separate operation, ICRC teams will transfer Palestinian detainees held in Israeli detention centres to Gaza and the West Bank. The ICRC will also facilitate the transfer of the remains of the deceased so that families can bury their loved ones with dignity," the organisation said.
Given the mistrust and danger of the conflict, the Red Cross has positioned itself as a key organisation for both sides. It is expected that the institution will also be responsible for transferring more than 2,000 Palestinian prisoners held in Israel to the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.
‘The war is over’
The handover of all hostages by Hamas militias to Israel offers a ray of hope that the conflict between the terrorist group and Israel will end.
With a ceasefire in place on the ground and the IDF withdrawn to the agreed areas, the situation in the region has taken a turn that appears to be definitive.
The news has been welcomed by key European and international leaders, including China and Russia. Secretaries-general, presidents and prime ministers around the world have noted that the release of the hostages demonstrates that the peace plan agreed by Trump with the parties has resulted in a complete triumph.
With the handover of all hostages and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, the first part of the 20-point plan has been successfully completed. Some leaders, such as Ursula von der Leyen, Secretary-General of the European Commission, and Emmanuel Macron, President of France, have described the news as ‘historic’. Others, such as British Prime Minister Keir Stramer, have said that the agreement is ‘a total turning point in the conflict’.
The next steps will reveal how the other points of the peace plan will be implemented.