Donald Trump Lands in Israel as Hamas Frees 7 Hostages – Shocking Turn in Middle East Crisis
Former U.S. President Donald Trump lands in Israel as Hamas unexpectedly frees 7 hostages, marking a dramatic twist in the ongoing Middle East conflict. Stay updated on this developing story
Hamas transferred seven Israeli hostages to the custody of the International Committee of the Red Cross on Monday, marking the first group to be freed under the ongoing Israel-Hamas ceasefire. There is no immediate update on the hostages’ condition. Hamas has stated that a total of 20 living hostages will be exchanged for more than 1,900 Palestinian prisoners currently held by Israel.
The remaining 13 hostages are expected to be handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross in the coming hours, according to reports. Adding to the high-stakes atmosphere, US President Donald Trump is set to arrive in Israel on Monday before heading to Egypt for a regional peace summit.
In a statement issued shortly after the release of the first batch of hostages, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said the seven released hostages “are on their way to IDF and ISA forces in the Gaza Strip.” The statement added, “The IDF is prepared to receive additional hostages who are expected to be transferred to the Red Cross later 0n.’
However, it remains uncertain whether the remains of up to 28 deceased hostages will be returned simultaneously. According to the Associated Press, an international body” is expected to assist in locating the remains if they are not released on Monday, as Israel said.
As part of the ceasefire terms, Israel plans to release around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, including 1,700 individuals detained from Gaza during the conflict without formal charges.
Also among those expected to be freed are about 250 Palestinians convicted over attacks that killed or injured Israelis, along with others held on lesser charges.
Donald Trump, who played a key role in brokering the ceasefire, is scheduled to arrive in Israel on Monday morning for a brief but symbolic visit.
The White House said Trump will meet families of hostages and address Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, before traveling to Egypt for a “peace summit” with regional and global leaders, reported AP. The US President is expected to return to Washington overnight Tuesday.
Hamas hands over first 7 Israeli hostages of the remaining 20 to Red Cross under ceasefire on Monday. No immediate update was given on the condition of the released hostages.
The remains of up to 28 others believed to have died in Gaza are unlikely to be returned immediately.
As part of the Gaza peace agreement, Israel will release around 2,000 Palestinian detainees. This includes roughly 1,700 people seized from Gaza during the war, as well as about 250 others convicted for attacks that killed or injured Israelis.
Hundreds of aid trucks are expected to begin entering Gaza from Egypt. Around 400 trucks were already lined up on Sunday said an AP report, while Israeli authorities said the number will rise to 600 daily under the deal.
Donald Trump will arrive in Israel on Monday morning in a visit. He is expected to meet families of hostages and address the Knesset before leaving for Egypt.
US President Donald Trump said on Monday that he would be “proud” to visit Gaza during his Middle East trip.
The former president is currently in Israel, where he is expected to address the Knesset, before heading to Egypt to co-host the Gaza peace summit with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.
Gaza ceasefire live updates: The Israeli military said the Red Cross is on its way to a meeting point in southern Gaza, where “several hostages will be handed over.” This marks the second group of hostages to be released by Hamas on Monday as part of the ongoing ceasefire agreement.
US President Donald Trump has landed in Israel early Monday, arriving amid the historic hostage release operation and ongoing Gaza ceasefire. His visit marks the first stop of a tightly scheduled trip, during which he is expected to meet with the families of released hostages and address the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, before traveling to Egypt for the peace summit.
Gaza ceasefire live updates: The Israeli Foreign Ministry confirmed the identities of the first hostages released by Hamas. The Israeli foreign ministry posted on X, “We’ve been waiting 738 days to say this: Welcome home.”
The seven freed hostages are identified as Guy Gilboa Dalal, Eitan Mor, Matan Angrest, Alon Ohel, Gali and Ziv Berman and Omri Miran.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Israel Security Agency (ISA), in a joint statement, said that the seven hostages released earlier on Monday are currently being accompanied by their personnel on their return to Israel. The hostages will undergo an initial medical assessment upon arrival.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s spokesperson said the Palestinian prisoners will be released only after Israel confirms that all hostages scheduled for release on Tuesday have crossed into Israeli territory, reported AFP.
The spokesperson added that Israel does not expect all of the bodies of dead hostages to be returned on Monday.
Gaza ceasefire live updates: As part of the ceasefire agreement, Israel is set to release nearly 2,000 Palestinian detainees and convicted prisoners later on Monday.
According to an official involved in the operation cited by Reuters, 1,966 detainees boarded buses at Israeli prisons and most are expected to be released at Gaza’s Nasser Hospital on Monday.
Following the release of the first seven hostages, the handover of the 13 remaining surviving hostages is expected next.
This will be followed by the return of 28 other Israeli hostages, including 26 confirmed dead and two whose fate remains unknown.
Gaza ceasefire live updates: According to a joint announcement by the IDF and ISA, seven hostages have been handed over to the Red Cross and are en route to Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip.
The military added that it is prepared to receive additional hostages “later on”, as part of the ongoing ceasefire and hostage release operation.
Gaza ceasefire live updates: Germany’s foreign minister Johann Wadephul said on Monday that Qatar, Egypt, Turkey, and other Arab states are applying pressure on Hamas in Gaza to disarm, supporting further peace negotiations with Israel.
“All these states don’t want Hamas to continue to be active. They want disarmament and in this respect we have a good pressure scenario, because it won’t work without pressure,” Wadephul told Deutschlandfunk radio, reported Reuters.
The statement comes amid ongoing efforts to stabilize the region following the recent ceasefire and hostage release deal.
Gaza ceasefire live updates: Hamas released seven hostages into the custody of the International Committee of the Red Cross on Monday, marking the first batch to be freed under the Gaza ceasefire, reported AP.
There is no immediate information on their condition.
Hamas has said that 20 living hostages will be exchanged for more than 1,900 Palestinian prisoners currently held by Israel as part of the ceasefire agreement.
The International Committee of the Red Cross has begun “a multi-phase operation” to oversee the release of hostages and prisoners under the Gaza ceasefire, according to AP.
Gaza ceasefire live updates: A Red Cross convoy is on its way to pick up the first batch of Israeli hostages to be freed by Hamas under the Gaza ceasefire deal, the Israeli military said on Monday.
An army statement said the handover would take place at “a meeting point in the northern Gaza Strip where several hostages will be transferred.”
“The IDF is prepared to receive additional hostages who are expected to be transferred to the Red Cross later on,” the statement added, following Hamas’s publication of a list of 20 surviving hostages it intends to release.
Gaza ceasefire live updates: The International Committee of the Red Cross was moving on Monday toward a site in the northern Gaza Strip to collect several hostages held by Hamas, the Israeli military said, reported Reuters.
The military added that other hostages would be released later.
This comes after Hamas published a list of 20 living hostages it plans to release, alongside over 1,900 Palestinian prisoners that Israel is set to free under the ceasefire agreement.
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