Seven living hostages freed by Hamas ‘now in Israeli custody’

The Israeli military has taken custody of seven living hostages freed by Hamas from captivity in the Gaza Strip.

The military said it had the seven after they were handed over by the International Committee of the Red Cross.

The seven hostages have now crossed into Israel, and will be transferred to a military base where they will be reunited with their families. They will then be taken by helicopter to Israeli hospitals.

Donald Trump has arrived in Tel Aviv (AP). PA Media

Hamas earlier said it would release 20 living hostages held in the Gaza Strip in exchange for over 1,900 Palestinian prisoners.

The exchange comes as part of the ceasefire reached in the two-year Israel-Hamas war.

The Israeli military said later on Monday that the Red Cross is on its way to a point in southern Gaza Strip to take custody of the second group of living hostages.

Meanwhile, American president Donald Trump landed in Israel to mark the US-brokered ceasefire.

Air Force One touched down at Ben-Gurion International Airport at 9.42am local time (7.42am BST) after flying over Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, where tens of thousands were gathered, on the way to landing.

Families and friends of hostages broke out into wild cheers as Israeli television channels announced that the hostages were in the hands of the Red Cross.

Tens of thousands of Israelis are watching the transfers at public screenings across the country, with a major event being held in Tel Aviv.

Meanwhile, Palestinians awaited the release of hundreds of prisoners held by Israel.

Trump and other leaders are in the region to discuss the US-proposed deal and post-war plans.

A surge of humanitarian aid is expected into famine-stricken Gaza, where hundreds of thousands of people have been left homeless.

While major questions remain about the future of Hamas and Gaza, the exchange of hostages and prisoners marked a key step toward ending the deadliest war ever between Israel and the militant group.

Tens of thousands of people are watching events unfold in Israel (AP). PA Media

The hostages’ return caps a painful chapter for Israel. Since they were captured in the October 2023 Hamas attack that ignited the war, newscasts have marked their days in captivity and Israelis have worn yellow pins and ribbons in solidarity.

Tens of thousands have joined their families in weekly demonstrations calling for their release.

As the war dragged on, demonstrators accused Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu of dragging his feet for political purposes, even as he accused Hamas of intransigence.

Last week, under heavy international pressure and increasing isolation for Israel, the bitter enemies agreed to the ceasefire.

With the hostages’ release, the sense of urgency around the war for many Israelis will be effectively over.

The living hostages were handed to the International Committee of the Red Cross and then to the Israeli military, which took them to the Reim military base to be reunited with families.

It is unlikely that the remains of up to 28 other hostages will be returned at the same time. An international task force will work to locate deceased hostages who are not returned within 72 hours, said Gal Hirsch, Israel’s coordinator for the hostages and the missing.

The timing has not been announced for the release of Palestinian prisoners. They include 250 people serving life sentences for convictions in attacks on Israelis, in addition to 1,700 seized from Gaza during the war and held without charge.

They will be returned to the West Bank or Gaza or sent into exile.

The release place as part of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas (AP). PA Media

Israel has warned Palestinians in the West Bank against celebrating after people are released, according to a prisoner’s family and a Palestinian official familiar with the plans.

Trump is scheduled to meet with families of the hostages and speak at the Knesset, Israel’s parliament. Vice president JD Vance said Trump was likely to meet with newly freed hostages.

“The war is over,” Trump asserted to reporters as he departed, adding he thought the ceasefire would hold.

The US leader will continue to Egypt, where the office of that country’s president Abdel Fattah el-Sissi said he will co-chair a “peace summit” on Monday with regional and international leaders.

Mahmoud Abbas, leader of the internationally recognised Palestinian Authority, will attend, sources said.

Mr Trump is arriving in the Middle East as the ceasefire takes hold (AP). PA Media

Netanyahu has rejected any role in post-war Gaza for Mr Abbas, though the US plan leaves the possibility open if his Palestinian Authority undergoes reforms. Hamas seized control of Gaza in 2007.

Other key questions in the ceasefire deal have yet to be resolved, including the future governance of Gaza and who will pay for a billion-dollar reconstruction process.

Israel wants to ensure that the weakened Hamas disarms, and Mr Netanyahu has warned Israel could do it “the hard way”.

Hamas has refused to disarm and wants to ensure Israel pulls its troops completely out of Gaza.

The Israeli military has withdrawn from much of Gaza City, the southern city of Khan Younis and other areas. Troops remain in most of the southern city of Rafah, towns of Gaza’s far north and the wide strip along Gaza’s border with Israel.

Gaza has been devastated by the war (AP) PA Media

Under the US plan, an international body will govern Gaza, overseeing Palestinian technocrats running day-to-day affairs. Hamas has said Gaza’s government should be worked out among Palestinians.

The plan calls for an Arab-led international security force in Gaza, along with Palestinian police trained by Egypt and Jordan. It said Israeli forces would leave areas as those forces deploy. About 200 American troops are now in Israel to monitor the ceasefire.

The plan also mentions the possibility of a future Palestinian state – another non-starter for Netanyahu.

The war began when Hamas-led militants launched a surprise attack on southern Israel on October 7 2023, in which some 1,200 people were killed and 250 taken hostage.

In Israel’s ensuing offensive, more than 67,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not differentiate between civilians and combatants but says around half the deaths were women and children.

“Much of Gaza is a wasteland,” UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher said on Sunday.

He said the UN has a plan for the next two months to restore basic medical and other services, bring in thousands of tonnes of food and fuel and remove rubble.