Truce holds as hostages and prisoners are finally released today.

Ceasefire – Palestine – Israel – (Special Correspondent / Web Desk) – The long-awaited exchange of hostages between Israel and Hamas began on Monday under international supervision, putting Gaza’s fragile peace to the test.
The Red Cross has begun coordinating hostage transfers, as Israel prepares to release thousands of Palestinian captives.

Hamas publicized the identities of 20 Israeli hostages set to be released, including twin siblings Gali and Ziv Berman, as well as numerous soldiers like Nimrod Cohen and Matan Zangauker.

The committee also disclosed a list of 1,718 Palestinian prisoners and detainees to be released, which is slightly lower than the previously agreed-upon amount of 1,722. The Israeli authorities made the changes over the weekend, replacing kids held during the war with two female inmates.

The exchange, supervised by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), began at a northern Gaza meeting point. Several vehicles were already positioned outside Israel’s Ofer Prison to transport Palestinian prisoners to Gaza and the occupied West Bank.

Israeli government spokeswoman Shosh Bedrosian confirmed that all 20 living captives were expected to return home early Monday.
After medical checks at an Israeli military base inside Gaza, the hostages will reunite with their families. Israel will also repatriate the bodies of 28 captives confirmed to have died in captivity, she added.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, facing mounting domestic criticism, called the exchange “an emotional moment of unity.”

“Tomorrow, our children will return to our borders,” Netanyahu said in a televised address. “It is the beginning of rebuilding and healing.”

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The exchange coincides with a high-profile visit by U.S. President Donald Trump, who led the mediation effort between Israel, Hamas, and Qatar.
Departing Washington on Sunday, Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One that “the war is over” and praised Qatar’s role in securing the ceasefire.

Al Jazeera’s Nour Odeh, reporting from Amman due to the network’s ban in Israel, described the event as “Trump’s show.” The U.S. president is expected to meet families of hostages, address the Knesset, and attend a summit in Egypt’s Sharm el-Sheikh with over 20 world leaders.

Israeli troops have withdrawn from parts of northern Gaza, including Gaza City, though they retain control over more than half of the enclave.
Residents returning to their neighborhoods found widespread destruction. Al Jazeera’s Ibrahim al-Khalili reported scenes of “wastelands” where entire communities once stood.

Humanitarian aid has started entering Gaza, with dozens of trucks arriving Sunday. But relief agencies warn that distribution remains slow and inadequate for the millions enduring months of deprivation.