In a significant development in the ongoing Middle East conflict, Hamas is set to release all surviving hostages on Monday, marking a pivotal moment in the ceasefire brokered by US President Donald Trump. The release, scheduled to begin at 8am local time from the Netzarim corridor and continue at 10am in Khan Younis, Gaza, comes as part of a prisoner exchange deal with Israel. Israeli media reported that all 20 living hostages are expected to be handed over to the Red Cross, while Hamas will also return the remains of a soldier killed in 2014. In exchange, Israel will release approximately 2,000 Palestinian detainees, including 250 security prisoners and 1,700 individuals detained during the recent conflict. Trump, who arrived in the region for a peace summit, declared the war ‘over’ and emphasized his role in facilitating the ceasefire. His visit includes meetings with the families of hostages and an address to the Israeli parliament. Trump also outlined his vision for Gaza’s future, proposing a new governing body that he would lead, supported by a multi-national force coordinated from a US-led command center in Israel. The plan aims to address the devastation in Gaza, where the conflict has claimed over 67,806 lives, according to the Gaza health ministry. Despite ongoing negotiations over the release of senior Palestinian leaders, both sides have expressed readiness to proceed with the exchange. Trump’s broader peace initiative, which includes a 20-point plan announced in September, seeks to resolve long-standing tensions and promote stability in the region. His upcoming summit in Egypt, co-hosted with President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, will bring together over 20 world leaders to discuss the next steps in the peace process.
Hamas to begin hostage release at 8am, Israeli media reports; Trump says ‘war is over’
