Seven Israeli captives have been freed by Hamas into the custody of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), marking the start of the first phase of a landmark ceasefire deal aimed at ending the devastating war in Gaza.
Cheers erupted across Israel on Monday night as news of the handover broke. Tens of thousands had gathered at public viewing centres, watching in relief as television networks confirmed the captives were safe and under ICRC protection.
The Israeli military later verified the release, saying on X that the seven—Matan Angrest, Gali and Ziv Berman, Alon Ohel, Eitan Mor, Omri Miran and Guy Gilboa Dalal—were being escorted home by the army and intelligence services for medical checks before reuniting with their families.
A new path has begun for many tonight, one television anchor remarked as families prepared to welcome their loved ones home after months of anguish.
Mass Prisoner Exchange Begins
According to Reuters – an international media outfit, the release is part of a wider swap deal that will see Hamas free 20 Israeli captives in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners—many of whom have been detained without trial. Officials confirmed that buses carrying the prisoners had already left Israeli jails.
In southern Gaza, thousands gathered outside Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis to receive the returning detainees. Medical teams were on standby to conduct health checks before emotional reunions with relatives.
Israeli government spokesperson Shosh Bedrosian said all 20 captives were expected home by early Monday. The army added that another group of 13 would be freed by 07:00 GMT in the central Gaza Strip.
While most Palestinians celebrated the deal, Israel warned families in the occupied West Bank not to hold public celebrations or speak to the media after their relatives’ release.
Among the prisoners to remain in detention is Marwan Barghouti, the long-imprisoned Palestinian leader widely seen as a unifying figure for future peace efforts.
Trump Declares ‘The War Is Over’
The deal coincides with a visit to Israel by US President Donald Trump, who brokered the truce alongside Egyptian and Qatari mediators. Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump told reporters, “The war is over, you understand that. The Middle East is going to normalize.”
He is expected to join regional leaders in Cairo for a summit to discuss Gaza’s reconstruction and long-term peace roadmap.
In a televised address, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the moment as “emotional and historic,” adding: “Tomorrow, our children will return to our borders. It is the beginning of a new path — a path of rebuilding, healing, and unity.”
But not all Israelis share his optimism. Some families of captives have accused the prime minister of delaying negotiations for political gain. During a rally in Tel Aviv over the weekend, many booed as US envoy Steve Witkoff praised Netanyahu’s leadership.
Now, as the ceasefire takes hold, the world watches closely: will this exchange truly mark the end of the Gaza war, or just another pause in a long, bitter cycle?
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