{"id":78054,"date":"2025-10-13T16:31:08","date_gmt":"2025-10-13T16:31:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/78054\/"},"modified":"2025-10-13T16:31:08","modified_gmt":"2025-10-13T16:31:08","slug":"living-hostages-and-palestinian-prisoners-released-as-part-of-ceasefire-in-gaza","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/78054\/","title":{"rendered":"Living hostages and Palestinian prisoners released as part of ceasefire in Gaza"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hamas has released all 20 remaining living hostages held in Gaza as part of a ceasefire, pausing two years of war that pummelled the territory, killed tens of thousands of Palestinians, and left scores of captives in militant hands.<\/p>\n

Tens of thousands of Israelis watched the hostage transfers at public screenings across the country. In Tel Aviv, families and friends of the hostages broke into wild cheers as television channels announced that the first group was in the hands of the Red Cross.<\/p>\n

\"MideastOmri Miran was reunited with his loved ones after being released by Hamas (IDF via AP)\n<\/p>\n

The freed hostages, all men, were later reunited with their families and footage released by Israeli authorities showed tearful reunions, including one showing 28-year-old twins Gali and Ziv Berman embracing as they were reunited.<\/p>\n

Hostages previously released had said the twins from Kfar Aza were held separately.<\/p>\n

The bodies of the remaining 28 dead hostages are also to be handed over as part of the deal, although the exact timing remained unclear.<\/p>\n

Palestinians in the occupied West Bank rejoiced as buses carrying dozens of released prisoners from Ofer Prison arrived in Beitunia, near Ramallah, as Israel began releasing more than 1,900 prisoners and detainees as part of the ceasefire deal.<\/p>\n

The prisoners include 250 people serving life sentences for convictions in attacks on Israelis.<\/p>\n

Later, giant crowds gathered to greet buses carrying other prisoners arriving at Nasser Hospital in Gaza\u2019s southern city of Khan Younis.<\/p>\n

\"DonaldMr Trump met Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog in Tel Aviv (AP)\n<\/p>\n

More than 150 of those freed were sent to Egypt by Israel and arrived at Gaza\u2019s Rafah crossing with Egypt early Monday afternoon<\/p>\n

The freed men, with their heads shaved, descended from the bus, flashing V-for-victory signs; some were lifted up onto the shoulders of the crowd, while others sank into chairs nearby, exhausted.<\/p>\n

\"IsraelPalestinian prisoners were greeted after being released from an Israeli prison (Majdi Mohammed\/AP)\n<\/p>\n

Kamal Abu Shanab, a 51-year-old Fatah member from the West Bank town of Tulkarem, said: \u201cIt was an indescribable journey of suffering \u2014 hunger, unfair treatment, oppression, torture and curses \u2014 more than anything you could imagine.\u201d<\/p>\n

His face gaunt, he said he lost 139 pounds (59 kilograms) in prison.<\/p>\n

Mr Shanab\u2019s niece, Farah Abu Shanab, said: \u201cWe don\u2019t recognise him. He\u2019s not the person we knew. Our uncle doesn\u2019t look like our uncle.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"GaliGali Berman was released from Hamas captivity in Gaza (AP)\n<\/p>\n

Earlier, while Palestinians awaited the release of hundreds of prisoners held by Israel, an armoured vehicle flying an Israeli flag fired tear gas and rubber bullets at a crowd. As drones buzzed overhead, the group scattered.<\/p>\n

The tear gas followed the circulation of a flier warning that anyone supporting what it called \u201cterrorist organisations\u201d risks arrest.<\/p>\n

Today is the first, crucial phase in ending the war in the Middle East.<\/p>\n

Now we must deliver lasting peace and a secure future for the whole region.<\/p>\n

The UK is providing additional humanitarian aid for civilians in Gaza, and we will lead efforts to accelerate its reconstruction.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) October 13, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

Israel\u2019s military did not respond to questions about the flier.<\/p>\n

\"IsraelZiv Berman, an Israeli hostage released from the Gaza Strip (Leo Correa\/AP)\n<\/p>\n

While major questions remain about the future of Hamas and Gaza, the exchange of hostages and prisoners has raised hopes that it marks the end of the deadliest war ever between Israel and the militant group.<\/p>\n

The ceasefire is also expected to be accompanied by a surge of humanitarian aid into Gaza, parts of which are experiencing famine.<\/p>\n

\"CheeringThousands of people have gathered to celebrate in Tel Aviv as the release unfolds (AP)\n<\/p>\n

US President Donald Trump is in Israel to celebrate the US-brokered ceasefire and hostage deal between Israel and Hamas before continuing on to Egypt for a key summit that he hopes will solidify an end to the war and pave the way for a more durable peace in the Middle East.<\/p>\n

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged that he was \u201ccommitted to this peace\u201d in a speech to the Knesset, the Israeli parliament.<\/p>\n

Mr Trump also addressed the Knesset, telling Israeli officials that their country had no more to achieve on the battlefield and must work towards peace after two years of war against Hamas and conflicts with Hezbollah and Iran.<\/p>\n

\u201cGenerations from now, this will be remembered as the moment that everything began to change,\u201d he declared.<\/p>\n

\"TrumpPresident Donald Trump talks with Israel\u2019s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the Knesset (Evan Vucci\/AP)\n<\/p>\n

\u201cIsrael, with our help, has won all that they can by force of arms,\u201d Mr Trump said.<\/p>\n

\u201cNow it is time to translate these victories against terrorists on the battlefield into the ultimate prize of peace and prosperity for the entire Middle East.\u201d<\/p>\n

We have started a multi-phase operation to facilitate the release and transfer of hostages and detainees as part of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.<\/p>\n

Read more: https:\/\/t.co\/jZoFK1t9u1<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/L0IAZjaB9Y<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 ICRC (@ICRC) October 13, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

Later, Mr Trump will head to Egypt, where he and Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi will lead a summit with leaders from more than 20 countries on the future of Gaza and the broader Middle East.<\/p>\n

Mr Netanyahu will not attend the summit, despite Cairo earlier announcing that the Israeli prime minister would take part.<\/p>\n

In a statement, Mr Netanyahu\u2019s office said that he had been invited by Mr Trump to participate in the meeting of world leaders but declined \u201cdue to the timing\u2019s proximity to the beginning of (a Jewish) holiday.\u201d<\/p>\n