Israel Begins Hostage Release After Years of Imprisonment by Hamas

Hostage Release and Reactions

Israel began the process to free the last living hostages held by Hamas after nearly two years.

The International Committee of the Red Cross is set to take custody from multiple locations in Gaza and transfer them to Israel’s Re’im base for medical and psychological care.

Israeli and Israeli media report the first transfers occurred around 8 a.m. local time with a two-stage handover through the morning.

Some Western outlets say the releases are simultaneous.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump flew in declaring “the war is over.”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Israel’s campaign “continues,” underscoring competing narratives.

Families gathered at Hostage Square in Tel Aviv to await reunions and the return of remains for identification by forensic teams.

Reporting for this sectionHaaretzi24NEWSBBCAssociated PressCNN

Hostage and Prisoner Exchange Deal

Israeli authorities say the deal pairs the hostages’ freedom with the return of up to 28 bodies and a large-scale prisoner release. The release would include around 2,000 Palestinians, with about 250 convicted of attacks on Israelis and roughly 1,700 Gazans held without charge during the war. Other outlets report a smaller exchange focused on 250 convicted prisoners.

Israeli media detail last-minute list changes that removed minors, added women, and lowered the Gaza detainee count to 1,718. Israeli officials also insist no Palestinian prisoners will be freed until all hostages are home. Meanwhile, the militant group publishes the names of those set for release.

Reporting for this sectionAP NewsAssociated PressHaaretzThe New Arabi24NEWS

Humanitarian Aid and Impact

The ceasefire has opened space for aid and recovery, but conditions remain brutal. Israel approved up to 600 aid trucks daily while Egypt pushes in 400, and the UN says 170,000 metric tons of relief are ready. Aid groups report choke points, including UNRWA’s ban from operating in Gaza and trucks held at Kerem Shalom.

Even as cooking gas entered for the first time since March and Palestinians returned to shattered neighborhoods, first responders recovered 233 bodies during the truce. Malnutrition among children remains severe. These facts underscore that Israeli bombing and siege policies killed tens of thousands and starved civilians before this limited opening.

Reporting for this sectionSpectrum News NY1Associated PressThe Korea TimesMiddle East MonitorRapid City Journal

Gaza Governance and Peace Plans

Power struggles over Gaza’s future have intensified as hostages are released. U.S. plans propose that Palestinian technocrats manage daily life with an Arab-led security force. Former President Trump’s 20-point roadmap calls for the complete disarmament of Hamas and a demilitarized Gaza.

This plan is paired with Israel’s commitment to destroy Hamas’s tunnels under a U.S.-led mechanism. West Asian sources report that Hamas has accepted a long-term truce but refused to disarm and will not govern Gaza after the war.

Some Western reports suggest that Egypt’s summit discussions exclude both Israel and Hamas entirely. A West Asian tabloid presents a more personalized scenario in which Trump would lead Gaza’s new governing body, though this is not supported by mainstream reports.

Reporting for this sectionWTOPFox NewsThe New ArabThe TimesKhaleej Times

Impact of Gaza Conflict

The human cost remains the central fact. Israel’s air and ground campaign killed more than 67,000 Palestinians, about half of whom were women and children. The campaign displaced roughly 90% of Gaza’s 2 million residents and left famine conditions and mass graves that rescue crews are still uncovering even under truce.

UN-recognized casualty tallies and West Asian outlets detail starvation and 170,000 injuries. Some leaders and media directly call it genocide; Iran’s foreign minister and others use that term.

Multiple outlets report surging genocide accusations against Israel, which Israel denies. The hostage release brings relief, but the genocide accusations and the scale of Israeli destruction mean the war’s trauma will not end with today’s handovers.

Reporting for this sectionAP NewsPBSXinhuaRapid City JournalCBS News