7 Hostages Freed in Gaza Ceasefire Arrive in Israel

Hamas Releases Hostages as Ceasefire Marks End of Two-Year War

Hamas has released seven hostages, marking the first step in a ceasefire that halted two years of conflict between Israel and the militant group in the devastated Gaza Strip. The release comes as part of a broader agreement to exchange 20 living hostages for over 1,900 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. While the condition of the freed hostages remains unclear, their return has sparked widespread celebration among families and friends, who watched Israeli television channels announce the news. Tens of thousands of Israelis gathered at public screenings across the country, with a major event taking place in Tel Aviv.

Palestinians are now waiting for the release of hundreds of prisoners held by Israel. U.S. President Donald Trump is in the region alongside other leaders to discuss the U.S.-proposed deal and postwar plans. Humanitarian aid is expected to surge into Gaza, which has been hit by famine and left with hundreds of thousands of displaced people.

The hostage and prisoner exchange represents a significant step toward ending the deadliest war between Israel and Hamas. However, many questions remain about the future of Hamas and the governance of Gaza.

A Painful Chapter for Israel

The release of the hostages brings an end to a painful chapter for Israel. Since their capture during the October 2023 Hamas attack, which ignited the war, newscasts have followed their days in captivity. Israelis have worn yellow pins and ribbons in solidarity, while tens of thousands have joined weekly demonstrations demanding their release.

As the war dragged on, critics accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of delaying the process for political reasons, even as he blamed Hamas for being intransigent. Last week, under international pressure and growing isolation, the two sides agreed to a ceasefire.

With the hostages’ release, the urgency surrounding the war for many Israelis will be effectively over. The living hostages were handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross and then to the Israeli military, which will take them to the Reim military base for reunification with their families.

It is unlikely that the remains of up to 28 other hostages will be returned at the same time. An international task force will work to locate deceased hostages who are not returned within 72 hours, according to Gal Hirsch, Israel’s coordinator for the hostages and the missing.

The Fate of Palestinian Prisoners

The timing for the release of Palestinian prisoners has not yet been announced. These include 250 individuals serving life sentences for attacks on Israelis, as well as 1,700 seized from Gaza during the war and held without charge. They will be returned to the West Bank or Gaza or sent into exile.

Israel has warned Palestinians in the West Bank against celebrating the release, according to a prisoner’s family and a Palestinian official familiar with the plans. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity due to fears of retribution.

Trump’s Role in the Ceasefire

Trump arrived in the region to discuss the U.S.-proposed deal and postwar plans. He first visited Israel, where a White House schedule indicated he would meet with families of the hostages and speak at the Knesset, Israel’s parliament. Vice President JD Vance said Trump was likely to meet with newly freed hostages.

“The war is over,” Trump stated to reporters as he departed, adding that he believed the ceasefire would hold. He then traveled to Egypt, where President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi’s office said he would co-chair a “peace summit” with regional and international leaders.

Mahmoud Abbas, leader of the internationally recognized Palestinian Authority, will attend the summit, according to a judge and adviser to Abbas, Mahmoud al-Habbash. Netanyahu has rejected any role for Abbas in postwar Gaza, though the U.S. plan leaves the possibility open if his Palestinian Authority undergoes reforms.

Unresolved Issues and Future Governance

Other key questions in the ceasefire deal remain unresolved, including the future governance of Gaza and who will pay for a billion-dollar reconstruction process. Israel wants to ensure that the weakened Hamas disarms, and Netanyahu has warned that Israel could do it “the hard way.” Hamas refuses to disarm and wants to ensure Israel pulls its troops completely out of Gaza.

The Israeli military has withdrawn from much of Gaza City, the southern city of Khan Younis, and other areas. Troops remain in most of the southern city of Rafah, towns in Gaza’s far north, and the wide strip along Gaza’s border with Israel.

Under the U.S. plan, an international body will govern Gaza, overseeing Palestinian technocrats running day-to-day affairs. Hamas has said Gaza’s government should be worked out among Palestinians.

The plan calls for an Arab-led international security force in Gaza, along with Palestinian police trained by Egypt and Jordan. It also mentions the possibility of a future Palestinian state, a concept that Netanyahu opposes.

Destruction and Humanitarian Crisis

“Much of Gaza is a wasteland,” U.N. humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher told the AP on Sunday. He said the U.N. has a plan for the next two months to restore basic medical and other services, bring in thousands of tons of food and fuel, and remove rubble.

The war began when Hamas-led militants launched a surprise attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, in which some 1,200 people were killed and 250 taken hostage. In Israel’s ensuing offensive, more than 67,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The ministry, part of the Hamas-run government, is considered to provide the most reliable estimate of wartime casualties.

The toll will grow as bodies are pulled from rubble previously made inaccessible by fighting. The war has destroyed large swaths of Gaza and displaced about 90% of its 2 million residents. It has also triggered other conflicts in the region, sparked worldwide protests, and led to allegations of genocide that Israel denies.