Hamas releases 20 Israeli hostages

Hamas released 20 Israeli hostages held in Gaza on Monday (October 13) in a deal brokered by US President Donald Trump to end a brutal two-year war.
Israeli state media reported that the hostages were released in two stages – first seven and then 13 more in Khan Yunis in southern Gaza, where they were handed over to the Red Cross.
Under the deal, all surviving hostages held by Hamas will be released in exchange for Israel freeing 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. Trump landed in Israel on Air Force One on Monday morning as part of the release process.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog gave Trump a red carpet welcome at Ben Gurion Airport.
The Israeli army said it had taken the first seven hostages under the supervision of the Red Cross and was preparing to hand over more.
The news brought joy to hundreds of people gathered in Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square. Noga, a woman whose relatives have not yet returned, said: “I am filled with emotion, but at the same time I am sad – because not everyone is coming back.”
On October 7, 2023, Hamas took 251 hostages and killed more than 1,200 people, most of them civilians. All but 47 of them were released at various stages.
While the ceasefire has brought some relief to Gaza, the war-torn region is now almost completely in ruins.
“When I returned to my Sheikh Radwan neighborhood in Gaza City, nothing felt the same.” The surrounding houses, the familiar landmarks – everything was gone. Yet it felt like I was back in my home, even though it was now a ruin.
He added, “We will pitch a tent next to the destroyed house and stay there until the reconstruction begins.”
European Union Foreign Minister Kaya Kallas called the news of the release of the Hamas hostages “an important milestone on the path to peace.” She wrote on ‘X’ (formerly Twitter) that this achievement was only possible under Trump’s leadership.
With the ceasefire in Gaza in effect, the international community is now looking ahead to the peace conference to be held in Sharm el-Sheikh under Trump’s leadership, where a framework for a lasting peace will be discussed.

Source: Hurriyet