President Donald Trump arrived in Israel this morning as the release of all 20 living Israeli hostages held in Gaza was completed under the first phase of the US-brokered ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.
The International Committee of the Red Cross confirmed that 13 more Israeli hostages were handed over by Hamas’ military wing, Al-Qassam Brigades, and are now on route to Israel. Their release follows that of seven hostages freed earlier in the day, bringing the total to 20.
According to Israeli media, the newly freed hostages will be received by Israeli military personnel at the Re’im facility in southern Israel. Here, they will undergo medical checks and reunite with their families before being transferred to hospitals for further evaluation.
Palestinian prisoners and humanitarian aid
In exchange for the release of the 20 Israeli hostages, Israel has begun freeing 1,968 Palestinian prisoners, including 250 serving life sentences. Around 1,700 of the released detainees had been held without charge since October 7, 2023.
Families gathered at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis to await the return of their loved ones. Red Cross vehicles and buses have departed from Gaza’s reception area to the Israeli border to collect and transport the released prisoners.
Meanwhile, dozens of humanitarian aid trucks were seen lined up on the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing, awaiting clearance to enter Gaza. Egypt’s Al-Qahera News reported that the deliveries are part of renewed humanitarian operations accompanying the ceasefire.
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Despite the truce, the death toll in Gaza continues to rise as rescue teams recover bodies from beneath collapsed buildings. In the three days since the ceasefire began, hospitals have reported 323 deaths, most of them pulled from rubble.
Trump and Netanyahu meeting
Trump’s arrival in Israel came just hours after the first hostages were freed. When the Air Force One landed early Monday, the US president expressed confidence that the ceasefire would hold.
He later met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, joining him in the presidential limousine to Jerusalem’s Knesset. The two were seen talking as they travelled to the parliament, where Trump is expected to deliver a speech — the first by a US president to Israel’s parliament since George W. Bush in 2008.
Before addressing lawmakers, Trump is planning to meet with the families of the released hostages at the Knesset to personally express his support, and discuss the ongoing humanitarian efforts tied to the ceasefire.
The leaders were due to hold about 40 minutes of private talks during their journey to discuss the terms of the ceasefire and regional developments.
Trump to receive honours from Israel and Egypt
Israeli President Isaac Herzog announced that Trump will receive Israel’s highest civilian honour, the Presidential Medal of Honour, in recognition of his role in facilitating the hostages’ release. Herzog said Trump had “laid the foundations for a new era in the Middle East built on security, cooperation, and genuine hope for a peaceful future.”
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi also confirmed that Trump will be awarded the “Order of the Nile”, Egypt’s highest honour, “in appreciation for his role in supporting peace efforts, defusing conflict and his leading role in stopping the war in Gaza.”
Trump will travel to Cairo later today to attend a summit involving leaders from over 20 countries, where discussions are expected to focus on Gaza’s reconstruction and long-term governance.
With all 20 living Israeli hostages now free and the first phase of the ceasefire agreement complete, attention shifts to whether the truce can hold. Whether this moment marks a genuine step toward peace or merely a pause in a genocidal war that has reshaped the region.
According to the Anadolu Agency, the Egyptian presidency has stated that both Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas will attend the Sharm el-Sheikh peace summit.
Israel’s Prime Minister’s Office confirmed that Netanyahu will not attend today’s summit in Egypt.
“Prime Minister Netanyahu was invited by US President Trump to take part in a conference being held in Egypt today,” his office said in a statement on X. “The Prime Minister expressed his gratitude to President Trump for the invitation but said he could not attend because the event is too close to the start of the holiday.”
