Hamas has released seven Israeli prisoners, who were handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), as part of the first phase of a ceasefire agreement to end the war in Gaza.
Israeli media reported that thousands of people gathered in major cities across the country to cheer and applaud after it was confirmed that the prisoners released by Hamas were being held by humanitarian organizations.
The Israeli military confirmed the release, saying the seven prisoners were receiving urgent medical treatment. The freed prisoners were identified as Matan Angrest, Gali and Ziv Berman, Alon Ohel, Eitan Mor, Omri Miran, and Guy Gilboa Dalal.
They will be reunited with their families before being transferred to hospitals in their home countries.
The freed prisoners are reportedly in good health and do not require urgent medical attention. For the Palestinians, thousands of people gathered in the city of Khan Younis to celebrate the release of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.
The new deal calls for Hamas to release 20 Israeli prisoners, while Israel will release nearly 2,000 Palestinians, most of whom have not been formally tried. Some of the Palestinian prisoners are reportedly convicted, including 250 people serving life sentences.
However, prominent Palestinian leader Marwan Barghouti is not on the list of those to be released, the Israeli government said. Families of some Palestinian prisoners have been told not to hold celebrations or speak to the media.
Meanwhile, Israel is preparing to return the bodies of 28 prisoners confirmed to have died at the hands of Hamas. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said their release was a “moment of national pride,” calling on Israelis to show solidarity.
US President Donald Trump departed Joint Base Andrews on Sunday, bound for Israel. He is accompanied by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, and CIA Director John Ratcliffe. Trump said the deal is a “historic moment” that will end the war in Gaza.
Trump, who played a key role in brokering the ceasefire, said the war was “over,” and that he had a good relationship with Netanyahu. He specifically thanked the government of Qatar for its role in facilitating the peace deal.
Trump traveled to Israel this morning, where he will meet with families of prisoners and address the Israeli parliament, before heading to Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, where he will hold an international conference.
The Sharm el-Sheikh conference, which is set to kick off talks between Israel and Hamas, is scheduled to take place on Monday and will be co-chaired by Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. It is expected to be attended by UN chiefs, the King of Jordan, the President of Turkey, and other world leaders.
Although neither Hamas nor Israel will attend the conference, Egypt has said it will be a “historic step” towards ending the war in Gaza and establishing a lasting peace in the region. However, experts say many challenges remain, particularly over the form of governance in Gaza and the future of Hamas.
