Under U.S.-brokered ceasefire, Israel frees 1,950 Palestinians as 20 hostages return; 28 bodies to be handed over
Under a U.S.-brokered first-phase ceasefire struck in Sharm el‑Sheikh, Hamas released 20 living Israeli hostages and agreed to hand over the remains of about 28 others while Israel began freeing roughly 1,950 Palestinian prisoners — including about 250 serving long sentences and some 1,700 Gazans held since the war — as Israeli forces pulled back to agreed deployment lines. The deal, driven by President Trump with mediators from Egypt, Qatar and Turkey and monitored by an international mechanism including roughly 200 U.S. CENTCOM personnel, opened a 72-hour window for exchanges and the scaling up of humanitarian aid amid continuing disputes over disarmament and Gaza’s postwar governance.
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📌 Key Facts
- A U.S.-brokered, phased deal based on President Trump’s 20‑point plan was negotiated in Sharm el‑Sheikh with U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner and mediators from Egypt, Qatar and Turkey; Israel and Hamas approved the first phase and Israel’s cabinet ratified it.
- Under the first phase a ceasefire took effect after the IDF pulled back to an agreed “yellow” line (within 24 hours of cabinet approval); Israel says it will retain forces in roughly 50–53% of Gaza while the pause holds.
- Hamas agreed to release all remaining living hostages (about 20 people) within the 72‑hour implementation window; releases began Oct. 13 in two batches (7 then 13) and were transferred via the ICRC to Israeli authorities and hospitals.
- Hamas is to hand over the remains of roughly 28 hostages as part of the deal; officials said locating and recovering some bodies will be logistically difficult and a multinational task force has been set up to assist.
- In exchange Israel released about 1,950 Palestinian prisoners and detainees — roughly 250 sentenced prisoners and about 1,700 Gazans held since Oct. 7, 2023 — with some of the sentenced prisoners deported or transferred to third countries.
- The U.S. and partners put in place an implementation and monitoring mechanism: roughly 200 U.S. CENTCOM personnel deployed to Israel (not into Gaza) to help monitor the ceasefire, and a civil‑military coordination center and multinational teams were formed to oversee aid flows and recovery efforts; a larger international stabilization force and governance arrangements remain under discussion.
- Humanitarian operations were scaled up as the pause began: hundreds of aid trucks entered or were staged for entry (Egypt sent initial convoys, U.N. agencies reported ~170,000 metric tons staged) and dozens/hundreds of trucks per day were planned, even as millions of Gazans face widespread destruction and high casualty figures from the two‑year war.
- Major political and security issues remain unresolved — chiefly Hamas disarmament, the scope and timing of Israeli withdrawal beyond phase one, and the structure and authority of postwar Gaza governance — all to be negotiated in later phases.
📚 Contextual Background
- The proposed plan specified that Hamas would release the remaining hostages taken on October 7, 2023 within 72 hours of an agreement, and that Israel would release 250 Palestinians serving life sentences plus 1,700 other Gazans detained after the start of the conflict as part of the exchange.
- U.S. officials in 2025 described a two-phase approach to ceasefire negotiations in which an initial hostage release would be followed by an Israeli military pullback to a previously held boundary position, while decisions about Gaza's future governing structure could be negotiated concurrently.
- A 2025 U.S. peace plan linked a hostage release to a reciprocal exchange involving Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
- Israel enforces a naval blockade of the Gaza Strip.
- The 2025 Trump peace proposal called for an end to Israel's military operations in Gaza, the disarmament of Hamas, and the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip under a Palestinian governing body overseen by a U.S.-led international coalition.
📊 Analysis & Commentary (7)
The art of the (peace) deal
"A Politico Playbook commentary frames Trump’s negotiated first‑phase Gaza hostage deal as a major diplomatic and political achievement for the president while warning that significant verification, disarmament and governance issues leave its long‑term success uncertain."
The Lessons of Trump’s Gaza Peace Deal
"The Wall Street Journal editorial argues the U.S.‑backed first‑phase Gaza deal is a major opportunity made possible chiefly by President Trump’s pro‑Israel posture and sustained military pressure on Hamas, but its durability depends on strict enforcement—especially demilitarization and constraints on Hamas’s allies."
How Kushner and Witkoff landed a Gaza peace deal
"A POLITICO Playbook analysis argues that Jared Kushner and real‑estate ally Steve Witkoff were pivotal behind the scenes in securing the first‑phase Gaza ceasefire/hostage deal, framing their role as emblematic of the Trump administration’s private‑sector, unconventional diplomacy — a potential political win for Trump that nevertheless remains fragile and fraught with implementation risks."
The Peace Deal Proves That Netanyahu’s Critics Were Wrong
"The WSJ opinion piece argues that the Trump‑brokered cease‑fire/hostage deal — described in reporting about the first‑phase ceasefire and Israeli pullback — undermines claims that Netanyahu kept fighting solely for political gain, emphasizing enforceable terms, U.S. backing, and negotiation sequencing as the real drivers of the agreement."
Playbook: The hostages walk free
"A Playbook commentary framing the U.S.‑brokered hostage‑for‑prisoner deal as a significant, tangible diplomatic win (and political boon) for the administration while warning the cease‑fire’s implementation, humanitarian fallout and longer‑term peace prospects remain fragile and subject to operational and political limitations."
Now Israel Must Choose
"An opinion piece urging Israel to accept the hard, pragmatic choice of a phased U.S.‑brokered ceasefire and prisoner‑exchange — accepting short‑term concessions to secure hostages and create conditions for longer‑term stability, while warning of the political and security challenges of implementation."
DR. MARC SIEGEL: From Horror to Hope: What Gaza's freed hostages teach a weary world
"Dr. Marc Siegel’s op‑ed responds to the tranche of 20 hostages freed under the U.S.‑brokered deal (reported Oct. 13), offering a physician’s perspective on the severe physical and psychological aftermath survivors will face, celebrating their resilience while urging long‑term medical, psychiatric and compassionate support."
📰 Sources (147)
Biden, Clinton praise Trump for Gaza peace deal
New information:
- Former Presidents Joe Biden and Bill Clinton publicly praised President Trump for brokering the Gaza ceasefire/hostage deal.
- Biden said on X he is "deeply grateful and relieved" and "commend[s] President Trump and his team for their work to get a renewed ceasefire deal over the finish line."
- Clinton posted that Trump’s administration, Qatar and regional actors "deserve great credit" for keeping parties engaged until the agreement was reached.
- Trump told reporters Clinton’s post was "very nice" and noted their past personal acquaintance.
Freed Palestinian detainees include 1,700 held without ever being charged
New information:
- CBS reports that around 1,700 of the Palestinians freed were individuals seized from Gaza during the war who had been held without being charged.
- The detainees were returned on Monday and were largely men, welcomed by large crowds as buses arrived.
‘Closing a circle of sadness’: Euphoric homecomings in Israel and Gaza
New information:
- Confirms exact swap number: 1,950 Palestinian prisoners/detainees exchanged for 20 living Israeli hostages.
- Specifies expectation of 28 deceased Israeli hostages’ bodies to be handed over as part of the deal.
- Names released hostages Gali and Ziv Berman and notes their arrival by helicopter at Sheba Medical Center.
- Details operational handoff via the International Committee of the Red Cross to the IDF.
- Describes scenes of mass receptions in Beitunia (West Bank) and Khan Yunis (Gaza), including on‑the‑ground quotes.
WATCH: Palestinians celebrate return of prisoners released by Israel
New information:
- Confirms approximately 1,900 Palestinian prisoners and detainees were released on Monday under the ceasefire.
- Reports and shows Reuters/AP video of large crowds celebrating in the West Bank and in Khan Younis, Gaza, as freed prisoners arrived.
- Reiterates that 20 living Israeli hostages were released as part of the same exchange and notes this is the first phase of the agreement with increased aid/food deliveries.
- Notes President Donald Trump met with several world leaders in Egypt on Monday for a summit on the ceasefire and long-term peace.
Couple separated, kidnapped during Oct 7 Hamas attack finally reunited after hostage ordeal
New information:
- Avinatan Or, abducted from the Oct. 7 Nova festival, was released Monday and reunited with his partner, former hostage Noa Argamani.
- The IDF publicly confirmed the reunion, posting “Noa Argamani and Avinatan Or are reunited at last” on X with a photo.
- Video showed Or exiting a van to supporters and reuniting with his parents; Fox frames the releases as part of the U.S.-brokered Gaza peace deal signed in Egypt.
20 living hostages were released by Hamas. Here's who they are.
New information:
- Identifies the 20 specific hostages released Monday, providing names and biographical/context details.
- Reports Hamas informed Israel that two hostages previously believed alive — Tamir Nimrodi and Bipin Joshi — are deceased.
- Notes only one remaining female hostage is believed to have been killed in captivity.
- Details exchange composition: Israel released around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, including 250 serving life sentences, plus 1,700 detainees seized from Gaza and held without charge.
- States President Trump met with some hostage families at the Knesset before addressing lawmakers.
- Restates timeline terms: remaining hostages were to be released within 72 hours under the ceasefire.
What's next in the Gaza peace plan after Israeli hostages freed
New information:
- As of Monday evening, all 20 living Israeli hostages have returned to Israel; many victims' remains remain in Gaza.
- Israeli officials say the IDF still controls about 53% of Gaza; troops withdrew from Gaza City and Khan Younis but remain in most of Rafah, the far north, and a strip along the Israel-Gaza border.
- Egypt’s foreign minister said fully implementing the first phase is crucial before moving to second‑phase negotiations.
- World Bank/Egypt postwar planning estimates at least $53 billion is needed for Gaza reconstruction, with Egypt planning to host a reconstruction conference.
- Governance contours under the U.S. plan: an international authority overseeing Palestinian technocrats, exclusion of Hamas and other factions, and a potential eventual role for the PA contingent on sweeping reforms and with no set timeline.
- Netanyahu reiterated that Hamas must disarm, saying demilitarization will occur 'the easy way' or 'the hard way.'
As the ceasefire begins, a look at the Gaza war by the numbers
New information:
- NPR tallies that as the ceasefire begins, Hamas has released all remaining living hostages, totaling 20, and is to release 28 sets of remains.
- Israel has freed nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners/detainees under the agreement.
- Updated tolls: at least 67,869 Palestinians killed and 170,105 wounded in Gaza; 20,179 Palestinian children killed (Gaza MoH).
- Israeli military deaths since the ground offensive began: 468 (IDF).
- Aid worker and media deaths: 565 aid workers (UN OCHA) and 197 media workers in Gaza (CPJ); 2 media workers killed in Israel by Hamas.
- West Bank/East Jerusalem/Israel Palestinian deaths since Oct. 7, 2023: 1,008 (UN OCHA).
- Damage and infrastructure: 78% of Gaza structures damaged/destroyed (UNOSAT); only 14 of 36 hospitals functioning/partially functioning (WHO); 114 heritage sites damaged (UNESCO); only 1.5% of cropland available for cultivation (FAO/UNOSAT).
- U.S. military aid to Israel since Oct. 2023 totals $21.7 billion (Brown University Costs of War Project).
What to know as Israel and Hamas exchange hostages and prisoners and Trump visits the Middle East
New information:
- Confirms 20 living Israeli hostages were released Monday in two batches (7, then 13) and transferred to hospitals.
- Specifics on remains: Hamas said it would deliver four of the 28 sets of Israeli remains Monday; a 72-hour deadline for returning remains has expired, and an 'international body' will help locate remains not returned.
- Details on Palestinian releases: buses began arriving; the cohort includes about 1,700 Gazans held without charge during the war and roughly 250 long-term prisoners; at least 154 were deported to Egypt from the West Bank under the deal.
- Diplomatic context: Trump addressed Israel’s parliament to repeated applause and landed in Egypt for a 'Summit of Peace' to discuss the ceasefire plan.
- Casualty context reiterated: about 1,200 Israelis killed on Oct. 7, 2023; more than 67,600 Palestinians killed in Gaza per Gaza Health Ministry.
These are the living hostages released by Hamas under ceasefire deal
New information:
- Confirms that two hostages previously thought to be alive — Tamir Nimrodi and Bipin Joshi — are deceased.
- Details that 20 living hostages were released Monday to the Red Cross and transferred to Israel under the deal.
- Provides biographies/names of the released hostages (e.g., Gali and Ziv Berman, Omri Miran, Matan Angrest).
- States prior to Monday there were 48 hostages in Gaza, with Israel having determined at least 25 were killed on Oct. 7 or in captivity.
Palestinians celebrate as prisoners are released by Israel under Gaza ceasefire deal
New information:
- Israel released nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners under the ceasefire deal, greeted by large crowds in Beitunia (West Bank) and Khan Younis (Gaza).
- Breakdown: about 1,700 were Gazans seized during the war and held without charge; 250 were sentenced prisoners (many for deadly attacks), per Israel’s Justice Ministry.
- Of the sentenced group, 154 were exiled to Egypt for transfer to third countries; others returned to East Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza.
- International Committee of the Red Cross buses transported the released; scenes included medical checkups in Khan Younis and celebrations with keffiyeh scarves.
- Quoted account from released detainee Kamal Abu Shanab describing severe prison conditions and dramatic weight loss.
Netanyahu calls Trump Israel’s 'greatest friend' as final living hostages released
New information:
- Netanyahu reiterated his nomination of Trump for the Israel Prize and added that Trump is Israel’s 'greatest friend.'
- Confirms the final release of all 20 living hostages under the deal and cites a 2,000-prisoner exchange by Israel.
- Mentions 'Operation Rising Lion' and 'Operation Midnight Hammer' related to June strikes on Iranian nuclear sites.
- Details a 'Board of Peace' chaired by Trump (with Tony Blair) to oversee Gaza redevelopment and transition.
Trump heralds 'golden age of the Middle East' in address to Israeli Knesset hours after hostages come home
New information:
- Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana said he will work with House Speaker Mike Johnson and global legislative leaders to submit Trump’s 2026 Nobel Peace Prize candidacy.
- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu nominated Trump for the Israel Prize, which would make him the first non-Israeli recipient if awarded.
- Knesset leaders publicly labeled Trump “the greatest friend Israel ever had in the White House.”
- Trump’s speech included the figure that 28 additional sets of remains are to be returned, alongside the 20 living hostages freed.
Trump writes message to Israelis after all living hostages released by Hamas
New information:
- Trump’s Knesset guest-book message: “This is my great honor — a great and beautiful day. A new beginning.”
- Confirms all 20 living Israeli hostages were released Monday under the agreement.
- Israel began releasing around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, including 250 designated as terrorists, as part of the exchange.
- White House-released speech excerpts: Trump to declare “the historic dawn of a new Middle East,” say Israel has won “all that can be won by force of arms,” and extend a “hand of friendship” to Iran.
- Trump to proceed to Egypt to co-lead a Sharm el-Sheikh summit with leaders from 20+ countries on Gaza peace.
Trump brokered Netanyahu's participation at Gaza peace conference in Egypt
New information:
- At President Trump’s request, Egypt’s President Sisi invited Israeli PM Netanyahu to the Sharm el-Sheikh Gaza peace conference; Netanyahu accepted.
- Trump personally called Sisi from the presidential limo after urging Netanyahu to attend; Sisi and Netanyahu had not spoken since the war began.
- Summit attendance now includes leaders or senior officials from more than two dozen countries (including France, Germany, U.K., Italy, Canada, Qatar, UAE, Jordan, Turkey, Pakistan and Indonesia).
Scoop: Direct meeting between Trump envoys and Hamas leaders sealed Gaza deal
New information:
- Axios reports that Trump envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner held a direct, 45-minute late-night meeting with four senior Hamas leaders (led by Khalil al-Hayya) on Oct. 8 at the Four Seasons in Sharm el-Sheikh.
- Qatari, Egyptian, and Turkish mediators arranged and attended, alongside the Egyptian and Turkish intelligence chiefs.
- President Trump privately authorized Witkoff and Kushner to meet Hamas if necessary; Witkoff informed mediators of the green light upon arrival in Sharm el-Sheikh.
- Witkoff conveyed Trump’s message that Hamas would be treated fairly and that Trump stood behind all 20 points of the U.S. peace plan, assuring enforcement if Hamas complied.
- Qatari mediators suggested a direct meeting and handshake would unlock the stalemate; shortly after, Egyptian spy chief Hassan Rashad told the U.S. envoys, “we have a deal.”
- Flashback detail: a prior, unprecedented U.S.–Hamas contact in March by hostage envoy Adam Boehler in Doha reportedly faltered due to Israeli government opposition.
Live Updates: Trump to Address Israeli Parliament as Hostages Are Released
New information:
- Hamas released the last 20 living hostages early Monday; they returned to Israeli territory.
- Israel is expected to release nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners later Monday as part of the swap.
- President Trump is addressing Israel’s Knesset and said, when asked, the war is “over” from his perspective.
- An Egypt summit on the cease-fire will occur later Monday with Trump, Netanyahu and Mahmoud Abbas participating, per Egypt.
- Israeli forces withdrew to a new defensive line inside Gaza by noon Friday to open the 72-hour release window.
- Israel believes 26 hostages are dead and two others’ conditions are unconfirmed; Hamas is obligated to turn over remains.
- UN reported “real progress” on aid deliveries; thousands of displaced Gazans began returning north after the cease-fire took effect.
In a major milestone, Hamas begins releasing final Israeli hostages
New information:
- All released hostages are men, mostly in their 20s and 30s.
- ICRC transferred the first seven hostages to the IDF; they were flown by helicopter to hospitals in the Tel Aviv area.
- Israel is preparing to hand over nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees beginning later Monday.
- Hamas is required to hand over 28 bodies of dead hostages but says it has not been able to locate all of them.
- Public reaction: tens of thousands gathered in Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square to celebrate.
- Trump’s itinerary: brief meeting with hostage families, address to the Knesset, then to Sharm el‑Sheikh for a formal signing ceremony.
- Humanitarian aid: hundreds of trucks entered southern Gaza from Egypt on Sunday.
Hamas releases 7 Israeli hostages as part of Gaza peace deal
New information:
- Hamas released 7 Israeli hostages around 8 a.m. local time via the ICRC; 13 more are expected at 10 a.m., with a noon deadline to free all 20 living hostages.
- Deal includes recovery of 28 deceased hostages’ bodies — including Americans Itay Chen and Omer Neutra — with a multinational task force to search inside Gaza.
- Israel will release 250 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences (all but about two dozen lifers) and 1,700 Palestinians detained in Gaza since Oct. 7.
- Israel refused to release Oct. 7 attackers and high-profile figures such as Ibrahim Hamed and Marwan Barghouti.
Israeli hostages set to be released amid Gaza ceasefire
New information:
- Egyptian FM Badr Abdelatty told CBS' Face the Nation that Egypt is 'confident' the first phase will be implemented and said Egypt will send troops to Gaza 'within specific parameters.'
- Abdelatty said Egypt supports the deployment of international troops into Gaza for security/stabilization and referenced Palestinian statehood in relation to the plan.
- Article reiterates ceasefire timing (Friday noon local), IDF pullback to a pre‑approved line, and reports tens of thousands of Palestinians returning to northern Gaza.
- Human-impact update: Family of Israeli hostage David Cunio reacts to expected release; AP quote notes they are 'in shock' and awaiting his return.
+ 127 more sources