The first seven Israeli captives held by Hamas in Gaza have been released and handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross as part of a negotiated cease-fire agreement, Israeli officials said Monday. Thirteen more hostages are expected to be freed later in the day.
In return, Israel is set to release nearly 2,000 Palestinian detainees held in its prisons, according to the terms of the agreement brokered through regional mediation. Families on both sides have been awaiting the exchanges, which come after weeks of intense negotiations.
U.S. President Donald Trump arrived in Israel Monday and is expected to address the Knesset. He will also co-chair a summit in Egypt focused on supporting and enforcing the cease-fire deal. The visit marks Trump’s most direct involvement in the conflict since returning to office.
Meanwhile, displaced Palestinians in northern Gaza have begun returning to what remains of their homes as limited humanitarian aid trickles into the besieged territory. Food, fuel and medical supplies remain in critically short supply, aid groups warn.
Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza, launched in response to the October 7, 2023 attacks by Hamas, has killed at least 67,806 people and wounded more than 170,000, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. In the initial Hamas assault, 1,139 people were killed in Israel and around 200 were taken hostage, according to Israeli officials.
The cease-fire, while fragile, has provided a temporary pause in the fighting. Efforts are continuing to extend the agreement and facilitate further releases.
