Palestinian militant group Hamas on Monday released all living Israeli hostages as part of the ceasefire agreement in Gaza proposed by United States President Donald Trump.

In a statement on social media, the Israel Defense Forces said: “13 returning hostages are currently being accompanied by IDF and ISA [Intelligence Support Activity] forces on their return to Israel, where they will undergo an initial medical assessment.”

The Israeli military also confirmed that there are “no more living Israeli hostages in Hamas captivity”. The bodies of 28 hostages are in Hamas’ custody, reported The Times of Israel.

In exchange, Israel was releasing hundreds of Palestinian prisoners on Monday.

During the first round of the hostage release earlier in the day, the Israel Defense Forces said that seven persons – Eitan Mor, Alon Ohel, Ziv Berman, Gali Berman, Guy Gilboa-Dalal, Omri Miran and Matan Angrest – had crossed into Israel.

“They are currently on their way to the initial reception point in southern Israel, where they will reunite with their families,” the Israeli military had added. “The IDF is prepared to receive additional hostages who are expected to be transferred to the Red Cross later on.”

This came two days after the Israeli government on Friday said that the ceasefire agreement had come into effect. Earlier in the day, Israel’s Cabinet had approved the ceasefire agreement proposed by Trump, clearing the way to suspend hostilities in Gaza and free Israeli hostages held there.

The decision came about 24 hours following Trump’s announcement that Israel and Hamas had “both signed off” on the first phase of the peace plan for Gaza.

The first phase of the peace deal includes a phased withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza and an exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners.

Amid the release of the hostages on Monday, Trump arrived in Israel to address the Israeli Parliament, Knesset, before his planned trip to Egypt’s Sharm el-Sheikh for a global summit on ending the war in Gaza.

“The war is over,” the Associated Press quoted Trump has having told reporters as he departed for Israel, adding that he thought the ceasefire would hold.

After the Israel’s Cabinet approved the ceasefire agreement on Friday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had said: “The government has just now approved the framework for the release of all of the hostages – the living and the deceased.”

Khalil al-Hayya, the head of Hamas’ negotiating team said that the group had received guarantees from the US and meditators that an agreement on a first phase of the ceasefire agreement means the war in Gaza “has ended completely”.

However, discussions still remain on further steps in Trump’s 20-point peace plan. These include the matter of disarmament, the governance of Gaza or whether Hamas will demilitarise.

Israel’s military offensive in Gaza began in October 2023 after Hamas killed 1,200 persons during its incursion into southern Israel and took hostages. Israel has been carrying out unprecedented air and ground strikes on besieged Gaza since then, leaving more than 67,000 persons dead.

In August, the United Nations formally declared a famine in northern Gaza. In September, a commission of inquiry set up by the UN said that Israel had committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. Israel called the report “distorted and false”, and demanded that the commission be immediately abolished.

Israel and Hamas had been holding ceasefire talks since July. Earlier efforts to reinstate a brief ceasefire that took effect in January had stalled due to disagreements between the two sides.

Trump’s proposal

The peace plan announced by Trump on September 29 entails Israeli forces partially withdrawing from Gaza to prepare for hostages to be released.

Within 72 hours of Israel accepting the proposal, Hamas would have to return all hostages, whether alive or dead. Subsequently, Israel will release 250 Palestinian prisoners undergoing life terms, as well as 1,700 Gaza residents who were detained after the conflict began.

Members of Hamas who “commit to peaceful coexistence” and agree to lay down arms will be given amnesty. Hamas members who want to leave Gaza will be given safe passage to receiving countries, as per the proposal.

The White House said that Israel will not annex Gaza and no one will be forced to leave the region.

The proposal also envisions a “Board of Peace” comprising international overseers led by Trump himself. The board will include former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, although the proposal has not yet specified his role.

Gaza will be governed by a temporary “technocratic, apolitical” committee comprising Palestinians and global experts and the “Board of Peace” will oversee the committee’s functioning.

The proposal will require Hamas to have no direct or indirect role in governing Gaza.

Also read: With its silence on Palestinian statehood, US proposal deceives rather than bringing peace

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