Hamas frees all 20 living Israeli hostages; Tel Aviv reciprocates
Sharm el-Sheikh, Oct 13: US President Donald Trump, along with other Arab leaders, on Monday signed the peace agreement to end the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.
At the signing ceremony, Trump said this is an “incredible day for the world, let alone the Middle East.”
He also asserted that the peace agreement is “going to hold up,” calling it the “biggest, most complicated deal.”
Earlier, Hamas released all 20 of the last living hostages on Monday, the Israeli military said, as part of a breakthrough ceasefire after two years of war between Israel and Hamas in the devastated Gaza Strip.
Buses carrying dozens of freed Palestinian prisoners drove to the West Bank city of Ramallah and the Gaza Strip, the Hamas-run Prisoners Office said, as Israel has released more than 1,900 prisoners. The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) confirmed that all the 20 remaining living Israeli hostages have been released by Hamas and returned to Israeli authorities after spending more than two years in captivity in Gaza.
“Today, after seven hundred and thirty-eight days, the last 20 living hostages have come home. This is a defining moment. A moment that belongs to the people of Israel and to all those who believe in humanity,” said IDF spokesperson Effie Defrin, as the country celebrated the return of the hostages on the eve of Simchat Torah.
U.S. President Donald Trump is in the region to discuss postwar plans and the U.S.-proposed deal with other leaders. A surge of humanitarian aid was expected into famine-stricken Gaza, where hundreds of thousands of people have been left homeless.
While major questions remain about the future of Hamas and Gaza, the exchange of hostages and prisoners marked a key step toward ending the deadliest war ever between Israel and the militant group.
Palestinians feel relief and joy after lengthy Israeli detention
Mahmoud Fayez, who was detained by Israel in March 2024, said he was relieved when the bus crossed into Gaza. Fayez, a resident of Gaza City district of Shijaiyah, was detained when the Israeli military raided Shifa Hospital. “Praise be to God, our Lord, who has honored us with this release and this joy,” he said following his arrival to the southern city of Khan Younis.
“It’s a day of great joy, as if it’s a feast,” said Mohamed Abu Ghebeit who spent 11 months in Israeli detention.
Details emerge of hostages held in 2-year captivity
The mother of a freed Israeli hostage says he was tortured during his captivity and held for long periods alone.
Anat Angrest said her son, Matan, was held for the past four months in a dark tunnel. In recent days ahead of the ceasefire, he was offered more food than usual and “he didn’t understand what was happening.”
Rebuilding Gaza will be the ‘easiest’ part; Trump
The U.S. president, addressing more than 30 world leaders at a forum in Egypt, says rebuilding war-torn Gaza will be the “easiest” part. “Rebuilding is maybe going to be the easiest part,” the former real estate mogul said, adding that “we know how to build better than anybody in the world.”
Nodding to the ceasefire process, Trump said “I think we’ve done a lot of the hardest part.”
PM Modi lauds Trump’s ‘unwavering peace efforts’
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday welcomed the release of Israeli hostages while hailing the “unwavering peace efforts” of US President Donald Trump and the “strong resolve” Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu.
“We welcome the release of all hostages after over two years of captivity. Their freedom stands as a tribute to the courage of their families, the unwavering peace efforts of President Trump and the strong resolve of Prime Minister Netanyahu. We support President Trump’s sincere efforts to bring peace to the region,” PM Modi posted on X. (Agencies)
