All Israeli Hostages Freed in Gaza
Seven Israeli hostages were handed over to the Red Cross in Gaza by Hamas on Monday, according to officials involved in the operation, Reuters reports. Their release marks a key moment in ongoing mediation efforts supported by Qatar, Egypt, and other regional partners.
A total of 1,966 prisoners expected to be freed have now boarded buses, officials confirmed. Of these, 250 are set to be released to the West Bank, Jerusalem and other destinations, while 1,716 will be freed at Gaza’s Nasser Hospital.
Joy and Relief in Israel
In the northern town of Lavon, well wishers gathered before dawn to watch a livestream of the hostages’ release. Among them were relatives and neighbours of Alon Ohel, one of the freed captives.
Community members baked bread, clapped, and sang as they waited for confirmation of the release. «I’m very very excited and in anticipation,» said Ohel’s aunt, Nirit Kremer Ohel.
She said Alon, a pianist, had been missing since the October 7 Nova music festival attack.
«His piano at home is still waiting, it’s open. His mother decided to leave it open and cover it with fabric until Alon returns to close it himself,» she said.
The moment his release was confirmed, the crowd burst into applause. A man blew the shofar, the traditional Jewish horn, while another raised a bottle of wine bearing Ohel’s image. Many in the crowd wore t-shirts printed with his face, some in tears as they watched the live coverage.
Ohel’s mother later sent a message from the border thanking the community and promising she would soon be reunited with her son, a statement met with silence and then cheers.
A military source confirmed that the Red Cross had completed the transfer and that the hostages were undergoing initial medical assessments.
International Reactions
French President Emmanuel Macron expressed joy at the news, saying, «Soon, they will be free.» In a message on X, he added that the release «makes peace possible for Israel, for Gaza, and for the region,» and vowed that France would remain engaged alongside Arab partners.
Live television footage showed Air Force One landing at Ben Gurion Airport, where a red carpet had been rolled out beside Israeli and American flags. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu greeted US President Donald Trump’s delegation, including Ivanka Trump, Jared Kushner, and ambassador Mike Huckabee.
German Deputy Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul told Deutschlandfunk radio that Qatar, Egypt, Turkey and other Arab states were increasing pressure on Hamas to disarm.
«All these states don’t want Hamas to be active. They want disarmament and, in this respect, we have a good pressure scenario,» he said.
Red Cross is currently on the way to receive more hostages.
UN aid chief Tom Fletcher said that humanitarian workers have begun distributing hot meals and bread in northern and southern Gaza, while deliveries of cooking gas have also reached the enclave.
«The humanitarian scale-up in Gaza is well underway,» Fletcher, the UN. Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, wrote on X.
He said aid organisations had received Israeli clearance to increase the flow of assistance, with 190,000 metric tonnes of food, medical supplies, shelter materials and other essential goods now authorised for delivery.
«This is only the beginning,» Fletcher added. «Under our 60-day ceasefire plan, the U.N. and its partners will broaden their efforts to provide life-saving aid and essential services across Gaza. We are committed to delivering. My thanks go to everyone involved,» he concluded.
13 More Hostages Arrive
Progress toward lasting peace in Gaza now depends on commitments expected at Monday’s summit, though major uncertainties remain. Key points of Donald Trump’s 20-point peace plan, including how Gaza will be governed after the conflict and the fate of Hamas, have yet to be settled. Hamas’s continued armed presence, shown in footage of its fighters at Nasser Hospital, highlights Israel’s doubts over its willingness to disarm.
Other contentious issues include Israel’s potential full withdrawal from Gaza and prospects for a Palestinian state, which many Israelis oppose. Despite these challenges, Israeli President Isaac Herzog announced that Trump will receive Israel’s Presidential Medal of Honor for helping secure the release of hostages. Herzog praised Trump for «laying the foundations for a new era in the Middle East built on security and hope.»
The medal, Israel’s highest civilian award, has also been presented to Joe Biden, Barack Obama, and Bill Clinton.
Officials confirmed that 13 remaining hostages have been transferred from Hamas to the Red Cross. During a visit to the Knesset, Trump signed the guestbook, calling it «a great and beautiful day — a new beginning,» and told reporters he was confident Hamas would comply with the disarmament plan.
