Monday, October 13, 2025 Hamas has released the remaining 20 surviving Israeli hostages after holding them in Gaza for more than two years, under a landmark ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement brokered by the United States. In exchange, Israel freed over 1,900 Palestinian prisoners, including 250 serving life sentences and 1,700 Gazans detained after the October 7, 2023 attacks. The releases mark the first phase of U.S. President Donald Trump’s ceasefire plan, which required Hamas to release all Israeli captives — alive or dead — within 72 hours of the truce’s start. The ceasefire began on Friday at midday (10 AM UK time), prompting thousands of displaced Palestinians to return toward northern Gaza, much of which lies in ruins after years of Israeli bombardment. Emotional Reunions The handover began when Hamas transferred seven hostages to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), followed by 13 more later in the day. The hostages were driven to Israeli forces, reunited with their families, and flown by helicopter to hospitals. Public screenings across Israel showed emotional scenes as families cheered and wept upon confirmation that the captives were safely in the hands of the Red Cross. Among those freed were twin brothers Gali and Ziv Berman, abducted from their beds in Kfar Aza, and Omri Miran, 48, who was taken from his home in Nahal Oz in front of his wife and two daughters. Trump: “A Historic Dawn of a New Middle East” President Trump arrived in Israel on Monday, receiving a hero’s welcome before addressing the Israeli Knesset. He hailed the ceasefire as “a historic dawn of a new Middle East,” pledging continued U.S. engagement in stabilizing the region. “Generations from now, this will be remembered as the moment everything began to change — and change for the better,”Trump declared to Israeli lawmakers. He is expected to receive Israel’s highest civilian honour later this year, according to President Isaac Herzog. War Toll and Next Steps The Gaza war, which began after Hamas-led militants stormed Israel on October 7, 2023, claimed over 1,200 Israeli lives and saw 251 people taken hostage. Israel’s military retaliation has since killed more than 67,000 people in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry, which says around half of those killed were women and children. The second phase of the ceasefire plan — still under negotiation — could see Israeli troops withdrawing further from Gaza, paving the way for a broader regional peace framework.Hamas Releases Remaining Israeli Hostages in Historic Gaza Ceasefire Deal
