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The International Committee of the Red Cross announced Monday morning the start of releasing Israeli hostages in the Gaza Strip as part of a ceasefire agreement, with the Israeli army confirming receipt of seven hostages.
The Israeli army confirmed through social media platform X that seven hostages had been released and were being escorted to Israel by the army and Shin Bet security agency forces.
Israeli army and Internal Intelligence Organization Shin-Bet officials met with the Red Cross delegation, according to a statement from the army. The hostages, received from the Red Cross delegation and en route to Israel, will undergo health checks.
According to Israeli Channel 12, seven hostages were handed over to Red Cross teams.
The remaining 13 living Israeli hostages will be released at 10 p.m. local time from the central Gaza Strip, the channel added.
According to Israeli I24 News Channel, the released Israeli hostages include Eitan Mor, Gali Berman, Ziv Berman, Matan Angrest, Omri Miran, Guy Gilboa-Dalal, and Alon Ohel, who are on their way to Israel.
The Israeli army said it is prepared to receive other hostages expected to be handed over to the Red Cross.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will attend the Sharm el-Sheikh Peace Summit in Egypt this afternoon, despite not being invited, according to local media reports and a statement from the Egyptian Presidency.
The spokesperson for Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi announced that Netanyahu will attend the "peace summit" in Sharm el-Sheikh. According to the spokesperson, "The Sharm el-Sheikh peace summit will soon begin with the participation of 30 countries and international and regional organizations to celebrate the signing of the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip."
Local media reported that Netanyahu called Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi by phone while U.S. President Donald Trump was visiting Israel.
The peace summit organized following the Gaza ceasefire agreement will be held today in Egypt's Sharm el-Sheikh city. Numerous heads of state will attend the summit, including Egyptian President Sisi, U.S. President Trump and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
U.S. President Donald Trump reiterated his message that "the war is over" in the Gaza Strip during remarks at Israel's parliament building in West Jerusalem during his official visit on Monday.
After an official ceremony at Ben Gurion Airport, Trump traveled to West Jerusalem and arrived at the Israeli Parliament.
Trump was greeted at the Parliament by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Parliament Speaker Amir Ohana.
Following the welcome ceremony, Trump signed the parliament guestbook with the message: "This is a great honor for me; a great and beautiful day. A new beginning."
Trump answered reporters' questions at the parliament entrance. Saying it is an important day because of the agreement reached, Trump said, "This is a wonderful day, a new beginning. Nothing like this has happened before."
Repeating a similar statement he made on the plane during his departure to Israel, Trump reiterated his message that the war in Gaza is over and said Hamas will comply with the agreement.
Trump's "war is over" statement made alongside Netanyahu drew attention.
Netanyahu claimed in a statement yesterday evening that "attacks on Gaza have not ended yet."
Hamas announced its military wing, the Izzeddin al-Qassam Brigades, will release 20 Israeli hostages under the first phase of the ceasefire agreement.
"The movement confirms its determination to fulfill its obligations with this step. Hamas also emphasizes the importance of the work done by mediators to force the Zionist enemy to fulfill its obligations under the agreement and to complete the implementation of all provisions of the agreement," the statement said.
The statement emphasized that the release of Palestinian prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment who have been held in Israeli prisons for many years is the fruit of the Palestinian people's resistance in the Gaza Strip and an indication of "the strong will that does not bow to the new Nazis."
The statement said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu failed to rescue the hostages despite two years of genocide and destruction in Gaza and ultimately had to accept the terms of Palestinian resistance groups.
Netanyahu finally learned that the way to get the hostages back is possible through the ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement.
"Despite the assassination attempts by killer Netanyahu and his army, Palestinian resistance fighters strove to protect Israeli hostages.
Despite our protection of Israeli hostages in Gaza, Palestinian prisoners in occupation prisons were subjected to all kinds of torture and violations," the statement said.
U.S. President Donald Trump said the Gaza ceasefire that took effect Oct. 10 could be "the biggest thing I've ever been involved in," speaking to Axios en route to the Sharm el-Sheikh Peace Summit on Monday.
Trump said he does not know why Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will not attend the summit but emphasized Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' participation is "a good thing."
He will deliver a message of "eternal love and peace" to the Israeli people in his expected speech at the Israeli Parliament before the summit and will meet with Netanyahu and hostage families during the visit.
Trump claimed U.S. participation in Israeli strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities in June played a role in achieving the Gaza ceasefire.
He argued Iran's weakening made Hamas more amenable to compromise and claimed removing the "dark clouds" regarding Tehran's nuclear program enabled Arab and Muslim countries to unite on Gaza.
Trump announced on Oct. 9 that Israel and Hamas approved the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire plan.
The agreement came into force on Oct. 10 with Israeli government approval. Israeli attacks from Oct. 8, 2023, until the ceasefire killed 67,682 people and wounded 170,033.
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