Hamas has transferred seven Israeli hostages to the Red Cross in Gaza, marking the first phase of a ceasefire agreement brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump.
The release comes after a deal was reached between Israel and Hamas, where Israel would release around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the surviving hostages.
In Tel Aviv, hundreds gathered in Hostages Square, erupting in joy as news broke of the hostage release.
Noga, one of the supporters, expressed mixed emotions, saying, “I’m torn between emotion and sadness for those who won’t be coming back.”
In Gaza, residents who returned to their neighbourhoods expressed relief and exhaustion.
Fatima Salem, 38, described returning to her neighbourhood in Gaza City, “my eyes kept searching for landmarks I had lost, nothing looked the same, even the neighbours’ houses were gone.”
U.S. President Donald Trump is set to visit Israel and Egypt to celebrate the ceasefire deal and promote Middle East peace.
Trump said, “the war is over. Okay? You understand that?” He will co-host a summit with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to back his plan to end the Gaza war.
Under the agreement, Hamas would hand over the remaining 20 living hostages to the Red Cross in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
However, negotiators are still wrangling over the final arrangements, with Hamas insisting that Israel include seven senior Palestinian leaders on the list of those to be released.
