In a serious milestone, Hamas releases all dwelling Israeli hostages : NPR

TEL AVIV — Hamas on Monday launched the final 20 dwelling hostages from Gaza as a part of a cease-fire deal between Israel and Hamas. In alternate, Israel was anticipated to launch practically 2,000 Palestinian prisoners in a while Monday.

Earlier Monday, Hamas initially handed over the primary seven of the 20 dwelling hostages to the Worldwide Committee of the Pink Cross, which in flip introduced them to the Israeli army.

The army is flying the hostages by helicopter from southern Israel to hospitals within the Tel Aviv space. All of the hostages are males, principally of their 20s and 30s.

Israeli tv confirmed Einav Zangauker chatting with her son, Matan Zangauker, 25, in a video name shortly after his launch. “There isn’t any struggle, it is over. You might be coming residence,” she instructed him.

The hostage handover ignited celebrations all through Israel. Tens of hundreds gathered in Hostages Sq., the plaza in Tel Aviv that has been the location of vigils all through the struggle. The group roared in jubilation and waved blue-and-white Israeli flags.

Hamas can be required handy over 28 our bodies of lifeless hostages, although the Palestinian group says it has not been in a position to find all of them. In flip, Israel is making ready handy over practically 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees as it’s required to do underneath the truce introduced final week. These exchanges are anticipated to start later Monday.

The fast-moving developments got here as President Trump landed in Israel. The president pressed laborious for the ceasefire deal and is extensively credited for getting it to the end line. Trump is scheduled to satisfy briefly with relations of the hostages after which tackle Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, in Jerusalem.

Shortly afterward, Trump is about to fly to Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, the place the truce was negotiated final week, to participate in a proper signing ceremony.

Earlier and whereas touring to Israel on Air Drive One, Trump portrayed the developments as a win for international locations throughout the area. “Everyone is joyful whether or not it is Jewish or Muslim or the Arab international locations. Each nation is dancing within the streets,” he mentioned.

On one other entrance, elevated support is starting to circulate into Gaza, the place necessities have been in critically quick provide all through the struggle. A whole lot of vehicles with help entered southern Gaza from Egypt on Sunday. The territory is in pressing want of meals, water, drugs, gas and tents.

U.S. President Donald Trump is welcomed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and officers at Ben Gurion Worldwide Airport on Oct. 13, 2025 in Tel Aviv, Israel.

Chip Somodevilla/Getty Photographs

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Chip Somodevilla/Getty Photographs

Take a look at for the ceasefire

The alternate of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners is the primary main take a look at of the ceasefire and was a number one demand by each the Israelis and Palestinians.

If either side full the total alternate as deliberate, it’s going to assist enhance the environment for the various powerful challenges forward.

Nevertheless, many obstacles stay. Israeli troops nonetheless maintain roughly half of Gaza and there isn’t any timetable for his or her full withdrawal.

The ceasefire additionally requires Hamas to surrender its weapons and play no function sooner or later governance of Gaza. Hamas has not publicly agreed to this, and Hamas civilian police have already re-emerged on the streets of the territory. There may be at present no different Palestinian group in Gaza that’s able to ruling the territory.

The ceasefire requires a bunch of Palestinian technocrats to run Gaza on an interim foundation, however they haven’t been named and it isn’t clear what sort of authority they might have, if any.