A ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas has led to the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners. According to the agreement brokered by US President Donald Trump, Hamas is set to release 20 surviving hostages in exchange for around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is facilitating the release and transfer of hostages and prisoners.
The first batch of seven hostages, including Gali and Ziv Berman, Eitan Mor, Matan Angrest, Omri Miran, Alon Ohel, and Guy Gilboa-Dallal, has been handed over to the Red Cross in Gaza City and is on their way to IDF and ISA forces in Gaza. The Red Cross will escort the hostages to IDF troops inside Gaza, after which they will be taken out of the Strip to a military facility near Re’im for medical checks and family reunions.
US President Donald Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi will co-chair a summit in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, aimed at ending the war in the Gaza Strip and ushering in a new era of regional security and stability. Leaders from over 20 countries, including UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Jordan’s King Abdullah II, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, are expected to attend.
The summit seeks to solidify the ceasefire and promote long-term peace in the region. However, major challenges remain, including Hamas’s refusal to disarm and Israel’s partial withdrawal commitments. The plan involves establishing a new governing body in Gaza under a US-led multinational force as Israel conducts a partial withdrawal.
