Hamas freed the last Israeli hostages

8 days ago
9

Hamas freed the last Israeli hostages on Monday under a ceasefire agreement, marking a crucial step toward ending 2 years of destructive conflict in Gaza.

The transfers, coordinated by the Red Cross, were met with tears, hugs & cheers from thousands gathered at Hostage Square in Tel Aviv. The Israeli military confirmed that all hostages confirmed alive had safely returned.

As part of the ceasefire accord, Israel also released nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners & detainees. Many of those freed began returning to Gaza & the Israeli-occupied West Bank, often carried on the shoulders of jubilant relatives.

The release forms the first phase of a broader agreement reached last week in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, ahead of a summit designed to solidify the ceasefire & chart the next steps.

Speaking before the Israeli parliament, US President Donald Trump hailed the developments as a historic moment.

“The skies are calm, the guns are silent & the sun rises on a Holy Land that is finally at peace,” Trump said, urging Israel to transform battlefield victories into lasting peace & prosperity for the region.

He is expected to attend the summit in Egypt, where more than 20 world leaders including Prime Minster Shehbaz, Emanuel Macron & President Erdogon will discuss implementation of a 20-point blueprint aimed at ending the war.

Despite these advances, significant challenges remain. Resolving the Gaza conflict is only a first step & longstanding issues underlying the wider Israeli-Palestinian dispute and other regional tensions continue to pose formidable obstacles.

Analysts caution that maintaining the ceasefire & translating it into durable peace will require careful diplomacy, enforcement mechanisms & ongoing international engagement.

The hostages’ release two years after the October 7, 2023, Hamas assault, which killed 1,200 people and took 251 hostages in the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust, offers a moment of cautious optimism, but the path to a broader resolution remains complex.
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