Israeli Hostages and Palestinian Prisoners Released as Gaza Ceasefire Holds

Celebrations erupted in Israel and Gaza Monday after Hamas released the 20 living hostages held in Gaza, and Israel freed hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, both moves part of a ceasefire agreement halting two years of war that has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians, and devastated the enclave, the Associated Press reported. 

On Monday, the loved ones of the hostages gathered at a square in Tel Aviv and broke into wild cheers after Israeli media reported that the first batch of hostages had been transferred to the Red Cross, the Washington Post reported.  

Later in the day, the living Israeli hostages, all men, arrived in Israel, and were transferred to hospitals, where they were reunited with their families.  

Under the terms of the agreement, Hamas has pledged to release the bodies of the remaining 28 hostages, and said it would release the bodies of four immediately. However, it added that it would not meet a 72-hour deadline set by the deal because it would not be able to recover the rest of the remains that quickly. 

Also on Monday, buses transporting hundreds of freed Palestinian prisoners arrived in the West Bank city of Ramallah, where they were met by large crowds celebrating their release. Israel said it freed 1,900 prisoners. Other crowds greeted prisoners in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis. 

The prisoners to be released by Israel under the deal include 250 Palestinians serving life sentences, plus 1,700 more held without charge. Imprisoned Palestinian leader Marwan Barghouti, whose release has long been sought by Palestinians, will not be released, Al Jazeera added. 

Now, under the deal, humanitarian groups are poised to surge in aid into Gaza, where parts of the enclave have been grappling with famine. 

The ceasefire also held in Gaza, giving hope to both Israelis and Palestinians that the deadly conflict is on its way to ending. Addressing the Israeli legislature, the Knesset, on Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that he was “committed to this peace.”   

US President Donald Trump also spoke to lawmakers in the Knesset on Monday, telling reporters afterward that “the war is over.” He later traveled to Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, to host a summit along with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi and attended by more than 20 world leaders, focusing on the details of the US-proposed ceasefire deal and postwar plans for Gaza.  

Netanyahu was not in attendance. Hamas also did not participate. 

Despite the hostages and prisoners’ release, many details of the second phase of the deal are still to be negotiated, including the structure of post-war Gaza and the future role of Hamas. The next stage is expected to include a gradual withdrawal by Israel, the disarmament of Hamas, the creation of new security and governance structures, and the reconstruction of the territory. 

Currently, the Israeli military has withdrawn from much of Gaza City, Khan Younis and other areas, while remaining in the southern city of Rafah and towns near the northern border of Gaza’s far north and other border areas. 

The war began after the Hamas-led attacks on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023 that killed more than 1,200 people and left more than 250 as hostages. It has killed 67,000 people in Gaza, according to enclave’s health officials, displaced about 90 percent of its 2 million residents and created a severe humanitarian crisis. It also sparked other conflicts in the region, triggered worldwide protests, led to international condemnation of Israel, and generated allegations of genocide, charges Israel denies.