Hamas begins freeing Israeli hostages as Gaza ceasefire remains in effect

President Trump boarded Air Force One on Sunday afternoon to travel to the Middle East.

In brief remarks to reporters at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, the president said: “So this is going to be a very special moment. »

“In Israel, as well as in Muslim and Arab countries, everyone is applauding,” Mr. Trump said. He didn’t answer any questions.

He is expected to arrive in Tel Aviv early Monday with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Central Intelligence Agency Director John Ratcliffe and other administration officials.

Mr. Trump is expected to meet the families of the Israeli hostages before delivering a speech to the Knesset, the Israeli parliament, in Jerusalem. He will then travel to Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, for the international peace summit.

— Kathryn Watson, Kiki Intarasuwan

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed in a statement Monday the identities of the first seven living hostages released by Hamas as part of the peace plan negotiated by President Trump.

The statement said the families of Ohel Alon, Angrest Matan, Berman Gali, Berman Ziv, Gilboa-Dalal Guy, Mor Eitan and Miran Omri “have been informed by authorized authorities that they have joined our forces in the Gaza Strip and will soon head towards Israeli territory.”

The Israeli military confirmed that the first group of seven live hostages had been transferred from the Red Cross to Israeli personnel inside Gaza, and that they are now “heading toward Israeli territory.”

The seven were to undergo immediate medical checks upon their arrival in Israeli territory, the Israel Defense Forces said in a message posted on social media.

“IDF commanders and soldiers greet and embrace the returning hostages as they return home to the State of Israel,” the IDF said.

“According to information received from the Red Cross, seven abductees have been transferred to them and they are on their way to the IDF and Shin Bet forces in the Gaza Strip,” the Israeli military said in a social media post on Monday, indicating that the first stage had been completed for the first group of hostages to be transferred out of Hamas custody.

“The IDF is prepared to receive additional abductees who will later be transferred to the Red Cross,” the Israeli military said.

The Israeli military said Monday morning that Red Cross vehicles were heading to a meeting point in northern Gaza to meet “a number of hostages” expected to be handed over by Hamas.

The Israeli military said in a social media post that it was “ready to absorb additional hostages who will later be transferred to the Red Cross.”

The remaining hostages – 20 of a total of 48 are believed to be alive – are expected to be released into at least two separate groups.

Dozens, perhaps hundreds, of Israelis gathered in Tel Aviv’s Hostage Square ahead of the expected return of the remaining hostages on Monday morning.

Waving Israeli flags and chanting, the crowd gathered before dawn and continued to grow throughout the morning. As the sun rose, many sang together and waved Israeli flags.

The release of hostages still held in Gaza is expected to begin around 8 a.m. local time, or 1 a.m., according to a source close to the matter. A second set of hostages is then expected to be released around 10 a.m. local time, 3 a.m. ET, the source said.

The two groups of hostages are being released from different locations in Gaza, the source said.

Israel’s Sheba Medical Center, located in Ramat Gan outside Tel Aviv, and which is expected to receive hostages after their release, noted that they might not arrive there until mid-to-late morning, at the earliest.

— Michal Ben-Gal, Jordan Freiman

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said Sunday that Egypt is “confident that the first phase of the Trump peace plan will be implemented” and will be honored by all parties involved.

“We are hopeful that the first phase will be completed, in all honesty, by both sides, and we are in full contact with the Palestinians, with Hamas,” Abdelatty said on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan.”

Abdelatty confirmed that Egypt would send troops to Gaza “within specific parameters.” He also said Egypt supports the deployment of international troops to Gaza to ensure security and stabilization.

“We are convinced, although we have to learn lessons from the past, that without resolving the Palestinian cause, which is at the heart of the conflict in the region, without respecting the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinians to have their own state, you know, there will be neither peace nor stability in the region,” Abdelatty said.

Abdelatty said President Trump’s peace plan referred to a Palestinian state, although the final version of the plan was unclear on the issue of a Palestinian state.

Watch Margaret Brennan’s full interview with Abdelatty here.

Alana Zeitchik, a relative of Israeli hostage David Cunio, said she was “nervous” about the state he will be in once released from captivity.

Cunio’s wife, Sharon Aloni Cunio, and his twin daughters were held captive by Hamas and released in November 2023.

Zeitchik said Cunio’s wife was given advice on how to tell her daughters their father was coming home and they were “in shock” after hearing the news.

Zeitchik told the Associated Press: “We won’t really be able to exhale and breathe a sigh of relief until he’s back on Israeli soil.”

Tens of thousands of Palestinians began their march towards the heavily destroyed northern Gaza Strip this weekend after the ceasefire agreement came into force.

A steady stream of people, many on foot, crowded a coastal road in the central Gaza Strip, heading north to see what might remain of their homes. It was a repeat of emotional scenes from a previous ceasefire in January.

Palestinians have expressed relief that the war may end, although tempered by concerns about the future and lingering pain from the staggering deaths and destruction.

“There was not much joy, but the ceasefire somewhat eased the pain of death and bloodshed, as well as the pain of our relatives and brothers who suffered during the war,” Jamal Mesbah, displaced from the north, told the AP.

The destruction they face this time will be even greater, after Israel carried out a new offensive in the northern city of Gaza in recent weeks.

—CBS/AP