After more than two years in brutal captivity, the first group of Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza have finally been released. The operation marks the beginning of a phased release under the Gaza peace plan brokered by US President Donald Trump.
In the first phase, seven Israeli citizens were handed over to Red Cross officials for transfer. The remaining thirteen will be released later in the day. The freed hostages are being moved through Khan Yunis and Nitzareem before being handed to the Israeli army. The release comes as part of a larger ceasefire deal that also includes the release of 1,966 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli custody.
The Red Cross has confirmed that a special medical facility has been set up in Tel Aviv to receive the freed hostages. Nearly 1,700 nurses volunteered for extended shifts, ensuring the returning captives receive physical and psychological care. Families have been reunited after 737 days of anguish, in scenes of overwhelming relief and emotion.
Trump’s Peace Plan
The hostages’ release marks the first major implementation of President Trump’s 20-point Gaza peace plan, announced last month. The plan envisions a full ceasefire, total disarmament of Hamas, and a phased Israeli troop withdrawal once hostages are freed and terrorist structures dismantled.
Trump personally confirmed the hostage handover on social media, stating:
“The war in Gaza is over. The hostages are coming home. This is peace through strength.”
The operation was mediated not only by the United States but also supported by Egypt and Qatar, reflecting a rare instance of broad diplomatic coordination in the conflict.
Israel’s Relief, Hamas’s Isolation
The hostages were captured on October 7, 2023, during Hamas’s terror attacks on Israel, the deadliest assault in decades. Their release comes as a significant moral and diplomatic victory for Israel, whose government, under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has maintained that no peace was possible without their safe return.
While Hamas attempts to portray the release as goodwill, analysts view it as a result of mounting pressure from Israel’s military campaign and US-led diplomacy. Israel’s steadfast stance, refusing to negotiate under duress, eventually compelled Hamas to comply.
The Red Cross has also begun negotiations for the transfer of 28 deceased hostages’ bodies, expected in later phases of the operation.
Global Response
A Gaza Peace Summit is now set to be held in Egypt, led by President Trump, with participation from 20 world leaders. Israel has welcomed the summit as a “path to lasting regional stability.”
India, invited by both the US and the League of Arab Countries, will be represented by Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, though not attending, has expressed India’s full support for humanitarian peace efforts and the safe return of hostages.
Hope Amid Hardship
As freed hostages embrace their families after nearly two years of torment, Israel stands united in relief and remembrance.
