All 20 remaining living hostages held in Gaza and a whole bunch of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel walked free Monday as a part of a ceasefire pausing two years of war that decimated the Gaza Strip and killed tens of hundreds of Palestinians.
Hamas said Monday that it can release the bodies of 4 of the 28 deceased Israeli captives, though it was not immediately clear when the remainder of the bodies can be sent back to Israel. Israel says it has released greater than 1,900 Palestinian prisoners as a part of the Gaza ceasefire deal.
Talking to parliament, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared he was “committed to this peace,” raising hopes that the ruinous war, which triggered other conflicts within the Middle East and had left scores of captives in militant hands, might come to an end. But fundamental questions remain over when and the way.
Cheering crowds greeted buses of prisoners within the West Bank, while families and friends of the hostages gathered in a square in Tel Aviv, Israel, cried out with joy and relief as news arrived that the captives were free.
U.S. President Donald Trump flew to the region and addressed the Knesset, the Israeli parliament. He was later to go to Egypt for a summit to debate the U.S.-proposed deal and postwar plans with other leaders.
Speaking ahead of Trump’s address within the Knesset, Netanyahu pledged that he was “committed to this peace.”
He added: “Today, the Jewish calendar marks the tip of two years of war.”
While major questions remain concerning the way forward for Hamas and Gaza, the exchange of hostages and prisoners raised hopes for ending the deadliest war ever between Israel and the militant group. The ceasefire can also be expected to see a surge of humanitarian aid into Gaza, parts of that are experiencing famine.
The war began when Hamas-led militants launched a surprise attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, during which some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were killed and 251 taken hostage.
In Israel’s ensuing offensive, greater than 67,000 Palestinians have been killed, in response to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which doesn’t differentiate between civilians and combatants but says around half the dead were women and youngsters. The ministry is a component of the Hamas-run government, and the U.N. and lots of independent experts consider its figures probably the most reliable estimate of wartime casualties.
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The toll is predicted to grow as bodies are pulled from rubble previously made inaccessible by fighting.
The war has destroyed large swaths of Gaza and displaced about 90 per cent of its some 2 million residents. It has also triggered other conflicts within the region, sparked worldwide protests and led to allegations of genocide that Israel denies.
“Much of Gaza is a wasteland,” U.N. humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher told the AP on Sunday.
Hostages and prisoners released
Tens of hundreds of Israelis watched the hostage transfers at public screenings across the country. In Tel Aviv, families and friends of the hostages broke into wild cheers as television channels announced that the primary group was within the hands of the Red Cross.
The freed hostages, all men, were later reunited with their families, and pictures released by Israeli authorities showed tearful reunions.
The bodies of the remaining 28 dead hostages are also to be handed over as a part of the deal, although the precise timing remained unclear.
Palestinians within the occupied West Bank rejoiced as buses carrying dozens of released prisoners from Ofer Prison arrived in Beitunia, near Ramallah, as Israel began releasing greater than 1,900 prisoners and detainees as a part of the ceasefire deal.
Later, giant crowds were gathered to greet buses carrying other prisoners arriving at Nasser Hospital in Gaza’s southern city of Khan Younis.
The prisoners include 250 people serving life sentences for convictions in attacks on Israelis, along with 1,700 seized from Gaza throughout the war and held for free of charge. They will likely be returned to the West Bank or Gaza or sent into exile.
Greater than 150 prisoners were sent to Egypt by Israel and arrived at Gaza’s Rafah crossing with Egypt early Monday afternoon, in response to an Egyptian official, who had direct knowledge of the deal’s implementation. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to transient the media.
Meanwhile, the Hostages Family Forum, a grassroots organization representing lots of the hostage families, said 4 bodies were expected to return to Israel on Monday. The group said it was “shocked and dismayed” that so few were coming back.
A global task force will work to locate deceased hostages who are usually not returned inside 72 hours, said Gal Hirsch, Israel’s coordinator for the hostages and the missing.
A painful chapter
The hostages’ return caps a painful chapter for Israel. Since they were captured within the attack that ignited the war, newscasts have marked their days in captivity and Israelis have worn yellow pins and ribbons in solidarity. Tens of hundreds have joined their families in weekly demonstrations calling for his or her release.
Because the war dragged on, demonstrators accused Netanyahu of dragging his feet for political purposes, at the same time as he accused Hamas of intransigence. Last week, under heavy international pressure and increasing isolation for Israel, the bitter enemies agreed to the ceasefire.
Trump in Israel and Egypt
In his Knesset speech, Trump told Israeli lawmakers their country had no more to realize on the battlefield and must work toward peace after two years of war against Hamas and conflicts with Hezbollah and Iran.
“Generations from now, this will likely be remembered because the moment that every little thing began to vary,” he declared.
“Israel, with our help, has won all that they will by force of arms,” Trump said. “Now it’s time to translate these victories against terrorists on the battlefield into the final word prize of peace and prosperity for the whole Middle East.”
His speech was briefly interrupted when two members of the Knesset staged a protest and were subsequently faraway from the chamber. One held up a small sign reading, “Recognize Palestine.”
Despite the optimism expressed by Trump, many thorny questions remain. Amongst probably the most difficult is Israel’s insistence that a weakened Hamas disarm. Hamas refuses to do this and needs to make sure Israel pulls its troops completely out of Gaza.
Thus far, the Israeli military has withdrawn from much of Gaza City, the southern city of Khan Younis and other areas. Troops remain in many of the southern city of Rafah, towns of Gaza’s far north, and the wide strip along the length of Gaza’s border with Israel.
The longer term governance of Gaza also stays unclear. Under the U.S. plan, a global body will govern the territory, overseeing Palestinian technocrats running day-to-day affairs. Hamas has said Gaza’s government ought to be worked out amongst Palestinians.
Later Monday, Trump will head to Egypt, where he and Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi will lead a summit with leaders from greater than 20 countries on the longer term of Gaza and the broader Middle East.
Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas arrived in Egypt’s Sharm el-Sheikh resort town to attend the meeting.
The plan envisions an eventual role for Abbas’ Palestinian Authority — something Netanyahu has long opposed. But it surely requires the authority, which administers parts of the West Bank, to undergo a sweeping reform program that might take years.
The plan also calls for an Arab-led international security force in Gaza, together with Palestinian police trained by Egypt and Jordan. It said Israeli forces would go away areas as those forces deploy. About 200 U.S. troops at the moment are in Israel to watch the ceasefire.
The plan also mentions the opportunity of a future Palestinian state, one other nonstarter for Netanyahu.