The Israeli government announced that Hamas has handed over seven Israeli hostages to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) as part of the ceasefire and prisoner swap deal brokered in Egypt earlier this week.
The released hostages are now being transferred to Israeli forces for medical examination before being reunited with their families.
Israeli officials said this marks the beginning of the first phase of the agreement, under which Hamas is expected to release a total of 20 Israeli hostages, while Israel will free nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners in exchange.
Trump-Led Mediation Efforts
The ceasefire plan, announced by U.S. President Donald Trump on October 9 following negotiations in Egypt, aims to end years of conflict and stabilize the Gaza Strip.
The deal came into effect at midnight on October 10 after being formally approved by the Israeli cabinet.
According to the agreement, Israeli forces have withdrawn to the “yellow line” within Gaza, and a temporary ceasefire was implemented starting at 12:00 p.m. the same day.
Heavy Toll in Gaza
The ceasefire follows one of the deadliest phases of the Gaza conflict. Between October 8, 2023, and the start of the truce, over 67,000 Palestinians were killed, and more than 170,000 were injured in Israeli operations across the enclave. Humanitarian organizations have welcomed the release of hostages as a “positive first step” but emphasized that sustained peace and humanitarian access remain essential to stabilizing Gaza and preventing further civilian suffering.
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