Hamas Begins Handing Over Israeli Hostages
Hamas on Monday, handed over the first seven of 20 surviving Israeli hostages to Red Cross representatives in Gaza, sparking cheers of joy in Tel Aviv, where a huge crowd was gathered to support hostage families.
Under a ceasefire agreement brokered by US President Donald Trump after two years of war, Hamas is due to release all surviving hostages on Monday in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
The releases came as Trump headed to the region for a peace summit, having declared the war “over”.
“According to information provided by the Red Cross, seven hostages have been transferred into their custody, and are on their way to IDF and ISA forces in the Gaza Strip,” the Israeli military and security service said.
“The IDF is prepared to receive additional hostages who are expected to be transferred to the Red Cross later on,” it added.
In Tel Aviv, hundreds of people gathered on Hostages Square and erupted in joy as news broke of the first release of seven hostages.
Among them, Noga shared her pain and joy with AFP.
“I’m torn between emotion and sadness for those who won’t be coming back,” she said.
On October 7, 2023, militants seized 251 hostages during Hamas’s unprecedented attack on Israel, which led to the deaths of 1,219 people, most of them civilians.
All but 47 of the hostages were freed in earlier truces, with the families of those who have remained in captivity leading lives of constant pain and worry for their loved ones.
In Gaza, too, the ceasefire has brought relief, but with much of the territory flattened by war, the road to recovery remains long.
“I returned to Sheikh Radwan with my heart trembling,” 38-year-old Fatima Salem told AFP after she returned to her neighbourhood in Gaza City.
“My eyes kept searching for landmarks I had lost — nothing looked the same, even the neighbours’ houses were gone.
“Despite the exhaustion and fear, I felt like I was coming back to my safe place. I missed the smell of my home, even if it’s now just rubble. We will pitch a tent next to it and wait for reconstruction,” she added.
Olamilekan Adigun is a graduate of Mass Communication with years of experience in journalism embedded in uncovering human interest stories. He also prioritises accuracy and factual reportage of issues.
