"Exchange of 1,900 Palestinian Prisoners"
Trump: "Will Deliver a Message of 'Love and Peace'"
Peace Agreement Signing Planned... Parties to the Conflict Absent
Citizens of Tel Aviv, Israel, are cheering on the 13th (local time) at the news of Hamas's second hostage release. Photo by AFP Yonhap News
Israeli hostages who had been abducted by the Palestinian militant group Hamas and held in the Gaza Strip for over two years have finally returned home. U.S. President Donald Trump, speaking on a flight to the Middle East, stated that the recent Gaza ceasefire agreement could be considered his greatest achievement.
According to the Associated Press on the 13th (local time), Hamas handed over seven hostages to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) for the first time as part of the ceasefire agreement with Israel. This marks the first group released out of a total of 20 hostages scheduled for release.
The seven hostages released in the first round are Gali Berman, Ziv Berman (both 28), Matan Angrest (22), Alon Ohel (24), Omri Miran (48), Eitan Mor (25), and Guy Gilboa-Dalal (24). All of the released hostages are young men. Previously, women, children, and men over the age of 50 were released first, in accordance with the ceasefire agreement between the two countries.
According to the BBC, Gali and Ziv Berman are twin brothers who were abducted from their home in a kibbutz during Hamas's surprise attack and were held separately for an extended period. Angrest, an Israeli army tank crew member, was captured during fighting near the Nahal Oz base close to Israel's southern border during the Hamas raid.
Ohel, a pianist, was abducted at the Nova Music Festival. Miran, a massage therapist, was kidnapped in front of his wife and two daughters and is the oldest among the surviving hostages in their 40s. Mor, who was working as a security guard at the Nova Music Festival, was captured while helping other attendees evacuate. Gilboa-Dalal was also abducted at the music festival site.
This hostage release is part of the first phase of the ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas. On October 7, 2023, Hamas launched a surprise attack across southern Israel, killing around 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. Currently, Hamas is holding a total of 48 hostages, and out of the 20 surviving hostages, seven have been released in the first round. Hamas plans to exchange these hostages for more than 1,900 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
President Trump, en route to the Middle East, stated that the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas could be the greatest achievement among his involvements. He made these remarks in a phone interview with the U.S. media outlet Axios while aboard Air Force One en route to Israel. When asked what message he would deliver to the Israeli people, he replied, "eternal love and peace."
Citizens of Tel Aviv, Israel, gathered at Hostages Square on the 13th (local time) upon hearing the news of Hamas's hostage release. Photo by AFP Yonhap News
On the morning of the 13th, President Trump is scheduled to meet with the families of Israeli hostages who were held by Hamas in Tel Aviv, Israel, and to deliver a speech at the Israeli parliament. In the afternoon, he will attend a Middle East peace commemoration ceremony in Egypt. Leaders from 20 countries, including those from Europe and around the world, are expected to participate, and the signing of the Gaza ceasefire agreement is anticipated to take place at this event.
However, it has been reported that the parties directly involved in the conflict will not attend the signing ceremony. Hussam Badran, a member of Hamas's political bureau, told AFP, "Hamas will not participate in the signing ceremony." Shoshi Bedrosian, spokesperson for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, also stated that no Israeli officials would be present at the ceremony.
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