Trump-Brokered Ceasefire: Hamas hands over first batch of Israeli hostages amid Gaza peace efforts

Hamas has handed over the first seven of 20 surviving Israeli hostages to representatives of the Red Cross in Gaza, sparking scenes of jubilation in Tel Aviv where a massive crowd had gathered to show solidarity with hostage families.

The handover follows a ceasefire agreement brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump after two years of conflict, under which Hamas is expected to release all surviving hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.

According to the Israeli military and security service, the seven hostages are already in Red Cross custody and are being transported to IDF and ISA forces in the Gaza Strip. “The IDF is prepared to receive additional hostages who are expected to be transferred to the Red Cross later on,” the statement said.

At Hostage Square in Tel Aviv, hundreds of citizens erupted in joy as news of the first releases broke. “I’m torn between emotion and sadness for those who won’t be coming back,” said Noga, one of the participants.

The October 7, 2023, Hamas assault on Israel had led to the abduction of 251 people and the deaths of 1,219 others, most of them civilians. While most hostages have been freed through previous truces, 47 remained in captivity until now.

In Gaza, the ceasefire brought a brief moment of relief amid the ruins. “I returned to Sheikh Radwan with my heart trembling,” said 38-year-old Fatima Salem, who described finding her home and neighborhood in ruins. “Despite the exhaustion and fear, I felt like I was coming back to my safe place. We will pitch a tent next to the rubble and wait for reconstruction.”

Trump, who is visiting Israel and Egypt for a peace summit, described the ceasefire as a historic breakthrough. “I think it’s going to hold. People are tired of it. It’s been centuries. The war is over, okay?” he told reporters aboard Air Force One.

Under the U.S.-led peace roadmap, Israel will begin releasing around 2,000 detainees in exchange for all surviving hostages. Negotiations are ongoing, with Hamas reportedly requesting the inclusion of seven senior Palestinian leaders on the release list.

After his visit to Israel, Trump will co-host a peace summit with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in Sharm el-Sheikh, attended by over 20 world leaders, to solidify his proposed Gaza peace plan.

As part of the deal, Israel is expected to conduct a partial withdrawal from Gaza, replaced by a multinational peacekeeping force under a U.S.-led command. The conflict, according to the Hamas-run health ministry, has claimed at least 67,806 lives — more than half of them women and children — figures that the United Nations considers credible.