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Hamas has completed the release of all living Israeli hostages, fulfilling the terms of a ceasefire agreement brokered in recent days. According to Israeli public radio, the final group of 13 hostages was handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) late Tuesday, marking the conclusion of a tense and emotional exchange process.
The Israeli military confirmed that the group has safely reached Red Cross custody and is currently being transported to Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Shin Bet personnel operating inside the Gaza Strip. Officials emphasized that the operation proceeded without incident and that all individuals are now undergoing medical evaluation and debriefing.
The released hostages were identified by Israeli media as Elkana Bohbot, Avinatan Or, Yosef-Haim Ohana, Evyatar David, Rom Braslavski, Segev Kalfon, Nimrod Cohen, Maxim Herkin, Eitan Horn, Matan Zangauker, Bar Kupershtein, David Cunio, and Ariel Cunio.
Their return brings the total number of released living hostages to 20, in line with the agreement’s terms, which also included the handover of up to 28 bodies.
The release marks a rare moment of relief amid months of conflict between Israel and Hamas, with families of the captives expressing both gratitude and anguish over the losses endured. “It’s a day of mixed emotions—joy for those who return, sorrow for those who do not,” one relative of a released hostage told local media.
Coinciding with the hostages’ release, U.S. President Donald Trump arrived in Israel on Tuesday for what is being described as a historic visit aimed at reinforcing American support for post-conflict stabilization efforts.
Addressing the Israeli Knesset in Jerusalem alongside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump underscored the importance of Hamas’s disarmament as a precondition for long-term peace in the region.
“Hamas must follow the path to disarmament,” Trump said, linking the issue to the second phase of what he termed a “broader peace plan” for the Middle East. While Hamas has publicly rejected any plans involving its disarmament, Trump’s remarks reflect Washington’s strategic focus on ensuring security and preventing a resurgence of hostilities.
During the Knesset session, Trump was photographed holding a book in which he wrote: “This is a great honour – a great and beautiful day. A new beginning.” The message, personally signed, underscored the symbolic weight of the moment as Israel navigates a fragile truce and uncertain future.
Prime Minister Netanyahu praised the U.S. President’s “commitment to Israel’s security and peace,” while calling the hostage release “a necessary but incomplete step toward justice.” He reaffirmed Israel’s determination to ensure that “every missing person is accounted for and every act of terror is confronted.”
As celebrations and solemn vigils take place across Israel, attention now turns to the next phase of negotiations. Whether Hamas will comply with international calls for disarmament remains uncertain, but for the families reunited after months of anguish, the day stands as a poignant milestone in Israel’s ongoing struggle for peace.