The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said Monday it had begun a “multi-phase operation” to oversee the exchange of hostages held in Gaza and Palestinian prisoners held in Israel, marking a major breakthrough in the ceasefire deal that aims to end two years of devastating war.
Israelis on Monday prepared to welcome home the last 20 surviving hostages from Gaza while mourning those confirmed dead, as hundreds of Palestinian prisoners were also set for release.
The exchange follows an agreement reached under a U.S.-brokered ceasefire plan, with President Donald Trump and other world leaders arriving in the region to discuss postwar arrangements. The truce is also allowing a surge of humanitarian aid into Gaza, where widespread destruction and famine have left hundreds of thousands homeless.
Hostages released first
Hamas on Monday published the names of 20 living hostages it would release, alongside a list of more than 1,900 Palestinian prisoners expected to be freed by Israel.
The Red Cross said it was moving toward collection points in northern Gaza to receive the first group of hostages. The Israeli military confirmed the handover of seven hostages and said more would follow later in the day.
Crowds gathered before dawn in Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square, watching live coverage on big screens as anticipation grew. “It’s very exciting,” said Meir Kaller, who said he had stayed up all night awaiting news.
The hostages’ return marks a painful conclusion to a two-year ordeal that began when Hamas militants stormed southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing about 1,200 people and taking 250 hostages.
Tens of thousands of Israelis have since joined weekly demonstrations urging their government to secure the captives’ release.
Under the deal, the freed hostages will first be handed to the Red Cross, then to the Israeli military at the Reim base for medical checks and reunions with families.
Authorities expect the remains of up to 28 hostages still unaccounted for to be located later. An international task force has been formed to search for them, said Gal Hirsch, Israel’s coordinator for the hostages and missing.
The timing for the Palestinian prisoner release has not yet been confirmed. Those set to go free include 250 serving life sentences for attacks on Israelis and about 1,700 detainees from Gaza held without charge.
While Israel labels them as terrorists, many Palestinians regard them as freedom fighters opposing occupation. Israeli authorities have reportedly warned against public celebrations in the West Bank after the releases.
Trump visits region amid peace push
Trump landed in Israel early Monday, meeting families of freed hostages and addressing the Knesset, saying he believes “the war is over” and expressing confidence the ceasefire will hold.
He was scheduled to travel to Egypt later in the day to co-chair a peace summit with President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi and regional leaders. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is also expected to attend, despite Israeli opposition to any PA role in Gaza’s postwar governance.
Under the U.S. plan, Gaza’s administration would be overseen by an international body, supported by Palestinian technocrats and an Arab-led security force with police trained by Egypt and Jordan. Around 200 U.S. troops are in Israel to monitor the truce.
The proposal also hints at a future Palestinian state, a condition that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continues to reject.
Gaza devastated
The U.N. said Israel has approved 190,000 metric tons of aid for entry into Gaza, with the daily number of aid trucks expected to rise to 600 under the new agreement.
“Much of Gaza is a wasteland,” said U.N. humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher, noting that plans are underway to restore basic health services, bring in food and fuel, and remove rubble over the next two months.
The Gaza Health Ministry says more than 67,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war began, nearly half of them women and children. About 90% of Gaza’s 2 million residents have been displaced, while vast sections of Gaza City and southern towns like Khan Younis and Rafah lie in ruins.
Despite ongoing questions about Gaza’s governance and Hamas’s disarmament, Monday’s exchange represents the most significant step yet toward ending the region’s deadliest conflict in decades.
