In a dramatic turn amid a long-running war, all 20 surviving Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza have been released under a newly struck ceasefire, and in exchange Israel has freed over 1,900 Palestinian prisoners. The handover took place Monday, with hostages delivered to the Red Cross and then transferred into Israeli custody, prompting emotional scenes of reunions in host cities and worship squares.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed parliament, declaring that Israel had received “all hostages confirmed alive,” even as he warned that four additional bodies would soon be returned and that some remains still awaited handover. U.S. President Donald Trump, who traveled to the region to oversee the deal, addressed the Knesset and later led a summit in Egypt, declaring that the “war in Gaza is over” and calling the moment a turning point toward regional peace.
On the Palestinian side, the freed detainees were greeted with celebrations and large crowds as buses returned through the West Bank and Gaza’s crossings. Israel’s release includes both long-term convicts—including 250 prisoners serving life sentences—and more than 1,700 others arrested during the course of the war. The deal was brokered by multiple mediators, including the U.S., Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, and aligns with Trump’s proposed ceasefire framework.
Reactions ranged from relief to wariness, as observers caution the truce may be fragile. Netanyahu vowed continued pressure on Hamas infrastructure even after the exchange and sought a transition from military victory to sustained peace. Hamas, while complying with the deal, has not yet delivered all remains or disclosed the locations of others. In Gaza, militants sought to reassert authority, deploying armed forces into emptied sectors and triggering reports of intra-territory clashes. The humanitarian situation remains critical: aid convoys are being allowed into the enclave, but the scale of destruction, displacement, and scarcity of essentials presents a daunting challenge.
Though Monday’s breakthrough marks the end of a painful chapter of captivity and countercaptivity, major issues loom: who will govern Gaza, whether Hamas will disarm, how reconstruction will proceed, and how to secure a durable peace.
