TEL AVIV: All remaining Israeli hostages held in Gaza have been released as part of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement.
The release was coordinated through the International Committee of the Red Cross, and the freed hostages were reunited with their families in Tel Aviv, where thousands gathered to welcome them.
As part of the agreement, Israel has begun releasing approximately 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, including 250 serving life sentences. Some of these prisoners are being returned to Gaza, while others are being relocated to other countries.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump, who played a key role in mediating the ceasefire, addressed the Israeli Knesset. He called the agreement the end of the “age of terror” and expressed hope that it would usher in a new era of peace in the Middle East.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Trump as Israel’s “greatest friend” and nominated him for the Israel Prize, the nation’s highest civilian honor.
Following his Knesset address, Trump traveled to Egypt to co-host a peace summit in Sharm el-Sheikh with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. The summit, attended by over 20 world leaders, aims to solidify the ceasefire and outline a plan for Gaza’s future governance.
While the release of hostages is a moment of relief and celebration, significant challenges remain. The ceasefire also includes provisions for delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza, where tens of thousands of Palestinians have died since October 2023.
Discussions continue on Hamas’ role and the broader path toward a long-term resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
