U.S. President Donald Trump arrived in Israel this morning ahead of a major international peace summit in Egypt, coinciding with the commencement of the Gaza ceasefire’s first phase: a high-stakes exchange of hostages and prisoners.
Initial Hostage Release Confirmed
The truce, mediated by the U.S. and regional partners, hinges on the mutual release of captives seized since the October 7, 2023, attack.
Phase One Details: The initial stage of the agreement involves the release of 47 Israeli hostages (living and deceased) taken on October 7, 2023, in exchange for 250 prisoners and 1,700 Gazans detained by Israel since the war began. Hamas is also expected to return the remains of a soldier killed in a previous 2014 Gaza conflict.
First Handover: On Monday, Hamas’s armed wing published a list of 20 living hostages. Shortly afterward, militants handed over the first seven captives to Red Cross representatives in Gaza City. The Israeli army confirmed the group was in custody.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry identified the released captives as Guy Gilboa Dalal, Eitan Mor, Matan Angrest, Alon Ohel, Gali and Ziv Berman, and Omri Miran. The handover sparked celebratory gatherings in Tel Aviv.
A spokesperson for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office indicated Israel expects all 20 living hostages to be released to the Red Cross “early Monday morning,” ahead of a noon (0900 GMT) deadline set by the Trump-proposed ceasefire agreement. The spokesperson confirmed Palestinian prisoners would be released only after Israel has “confirmation that all of our hostages set to be released tomorrow are across the border into Israel.”
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum cautioned that their mission remains incomplete: “Our struggle is not over. It will not end until the last hostage is located and returned for proper burial.”
Sharm El-Sheikh Peace Summit
President Trump arrived at Ben Gurion airport to be greeted by Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog. He travels next to Egypt, where he will co-chair the “Gaza summit” on Monday with his Egyptian counterpart, President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.
The gathering in Sharm El-Sheikh is set to host more than 20 world leaders, 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. Canada will be represented by Prime Minister Mark Carney.
The Egyptian president’s office stated the summit aims “to end the war in the Gaza Strip, enhance efforts to achieve peace and stability in the Middle East, and usher in a new era of regional security and stability.”
Guarantee Document: A diplomatic source indicated that the mediating states—the U.S., Egypt, Qatar, and likely Turkey—would sign a guarantee document during the summit. However, neither of the warring parties will attend, as both Hamas and Israeli officials confirmed they would not send representatives.
Disarmament Debate: A key point of political contention was highlighted by conflicting statements regarding Hamas’s future. An Egyptian foreign ministry official suggested a “document ending the war in the Gaza Strip” was expected to be signed. A diplomatic source close to the negotiations stated that Hamas has “relinquished control of the Strip” and agreed to a long-term truce, promising its weapons would not be used “except in the event of an Israeli attack on Gaza.” However, another Hamas official contradicted this, telling AFP that the militant group’s disarmament was “out of the question.”
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