Gaza Crisis: Hamas releases first seven Israeli hostages under new ceasefire deal

The hostages — held in Gaza for nearly two years — were first handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) before being transferred to Israeli forces.

The remaining captives are expected to be freed later in the day.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) identified the seven released hostages as Eitan Mor, Alon Ohel, Ziv Berman, Gali Berman, Guy Gilboa-Dalal, Omri Miran, and Matan Angrest.

“Personnel from the IDF Manpower Directorate and IDF medical teams are accompanying the released hostages, who will undergo initial medical evaluations before reuniting with their families at a reception point in southern Israel,” the IDF said in a statement posted on X.

The army said its teams are also assisting family members waiting at hospitals and “providing them with ongoing updates.”

Red Cross vehicles were also seen arriving at the Ofer Prison near Ramallah, where around 2,000 Palestinian detainees and prisoners are expected to be released later Monday as part of the swap, according to Xinhua news agency.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump arrived in Israel on Monday for a brief visit during which he is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and families of the hostages. Trump is also expected to address the Knesset, Israel’s parliament.

Speaking to reporters before his trip, Trump said he was confident the truce — which took effect shortly after the second anniversary of Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attacks — would last.

“The war is over,” Trump told reporters. “I think it’s going to hold.”

Following his Israel visit, Trump will travel to Egypt to co-chair a high-level summit on Gaza’s future in Sharm el-Sheikh alongside Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.

The meeting is expected to include leaders from about 20 nations to discuss post-war reconstruction and governance in Gaza.