Main Points
- Hamas has released first seven of 20 remaining hostages
- Israel will free 250 Palestinian prisoners and 1,700 Gaza detainees
- Dozens of aid trucks have been seen entering Gaza
- Donald Trump is set to attend a peace summit in Egypt with other world leaders today
Best Reads
- October 7th hostages due to be released ahead of Trump’s arrival in Israel
- Ceasefire has not ended uncertainty in Gaza
- ‘Gaza is completely destroyed’: Palestinians return to ruins
- Netanyahu under attack from Israel’s far-right over Gaza plan
Not long before he touched down in Israel US President Donald Trump said he would be “proud” to visit Gaza at some point in the future.
“I know it so well without visiting,” he says. “I’d like to do it, I’d like to put my feet on it at least.”
“But I think it’s going to be a great miracle over the coming decades. If you go too fast, it’s not going to be good. You have to go at the right speed, you can’t go too fast.”
Red Cross to receive more hostages in Gaza
The Israeli military has said the Red Cross is on its way to another meeting point in Gaza to receive more hostages.
Seven hostages have been released so far, and are back on Israeli territory. Under the ceasefire agreement, Hamas has until 10am Irish time to hand over 13 more living hostages.
‘Victory lap’: Donald Trump arrives in Israel
US president Donald Trump has arrived in Israel, where he is due to meet families of hostages and speak at the Israel’s parliament, the Knesset.
His arrival is widely seen as a victory lap after he helped pressure both Israel and Hamas into agreeing to a ceasefire deal.
After several hours he will travel to Egypt for a peace summit with world leaders and an official signing ceremony of the first phase of his Gaza peace deal.
Simon Harris: ‘Today is a major step forward for peace’
Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Harris has described today’s developments as a “major step forward for peace and a day no doubt many families who had loved ones taken hostage feared would never come.”
“We think of all the hostages this morning and their families as they are reunited. No peace plan is perfect. Such a thing does not exist. We know that from our own complex history, but we also know how even the most complex conflicts and wars can end if everyone commits to peace and political pathways,” he said.
“For our part, we in Ireland remain ready to assist in any way we can. We are already assisting through the provision of humanitarian aid to a starving people in Gaza.”
He said he has directed officials to prepare for Ireland to do more in this area and to work closely with international partners and agencies on the ground to “help in every way we can”.
“Today, after more than two years of horror, pain and unimaginable loss of life, there is a ray of hope,” he said.
Mother of hostage: ‘I am full of happiness’
“I am on my way to Reim to see my son Nimrod after two years,” said Viki Cohen, from a vehicle en route to see her son. “I am so excited. I am full of happiness. It’s hard to imagine how I feel this moment. I didn’t sleep all night.”
Ms Cohen’s son Nimrod was 19 years old and performing his military service when he was kidnapped from an Israeli tank on October 7th, 2023.
“Thank you to all the people here in Israel and around the world that fought with us for this moment,” she added.
In pictures: scenes from Gaza
In pictures: Israelis celebrate the release of hostages
First hostages handed over to the Israeli military
The Red Cross has now transferred the first Israeli hostages to the military, local media have reported, and are they due to be reunited with their families shortly.
Meanwhile, Palestinian detainees - due to released from Israeli prisons in exchange - are boarding buses bound for the West Bank and Gaza.
First Palestinian detainees board buses at Israeli prisons
Almost 2,000 Palestinian detainees, due to be released on Monday, have now boarded buses, official involved in the operation have said.
Of those, 250 are due to be released to the West Bank, Jerusalem and other countries, while more than 1,700 are expected to be released at Gaza’s Nasser Hospital.
What happens now that hostages are being handed over?
The release of hostages has started. The Red Cross will take them to Israeli-controlled parts of Gaza and transfer them over to Israeli forces. What happens next?
-They will be taken to a military base - Re’im base in southern Israel - where they will be reunited with their families;
-Hostages who need medical attention will be taken to medics “immediately”, with ambulances on stand-by;
-Once with their families, they will be taken for check-ups to one of three main hospitals in the area
First seven hostages transferred
The first Israeli hostages have been transferred, an Israel official has said.
They were been transferred over to the Red Cross in Gaza, according to reports in Hebrew media.
Reports say the seven are:
Gali Berman; Ziv Berman; Matan Angrest; Alon Ohel; Omri Miran; Eitan Mor; Guy Gilboa-Dalal.
The announcement was met with a cheer by crowds in Hostages Square.
Trump: ‘The war is over’
US president Donald Trump has declared the war in Gaza is, in response to questions from reporters aboard Air Force One.
En route to Israel, Mr Trump said the ceasefire is going to hold and a new interim administrative body will be set up quickly.
“The war is over, you understand that,” he said.
His comments come just days into a ceasefire and after during the initial phase of his 20-point peace plan.
Mr Trump also praised Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu and said he did a “good job”.
Red Cross arrives at first hostage release location
Israeli media are reporting that Red Cross vehicles have arrived at the first hostage release location in Gaza.
The first Israeli hostages are to be handed over to the Red Cross under the first phase of the Gaza peace plan shortly.
The Red Cross says it has started a “multi-phase operation” to oversee the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners.
What happens next?
Under the ceasefire deal, Hamas is due by 10am Irish times on Monday to release the remaining hostages, taken captive on October 7th, 2023, when the group’s militants launched the surprise attack on Israel that ignited the war.
Israeli media reported that the release of the hostages is expected to begin from Netzarim Corridor at 6am (0500 GMT) and to continue at 10am in Gaza’s Khan Younis.
Their release is to be followed later by the handover of bodies of the remaining 28 deceased hostages.
Israel is also to release 1,700 Palestinians who have been detained in Gaza since the war began, and 22 Palestinian minors, along with the bodies of 360 militants.
The prisoners are scheduled to be released once the living hostages reach Israeli territory.
Hamas provides names of 20 hostages to be released
Hamas has just published the names of the 20 Israeli hostages to be released under the first phase of a ceasefire agreement with Israel.
The names listed are: Bar Abraham Kupershtein, Evyatar David, Yosef-Chaim Ohana, Segev Kalfon, Avinatan Or, Elkana Bohbot, Maxim Herkin, Nimrod Cohen, Matan Angrest, Matan Zangauker, Eitan Horn, Eitan Abraham Mor, Gali Berman, Ziv Berman, Omri Miran, Alon Ohel, Guy Gilboa-Dalal, Rom Braslavski, Ariel Cunio and David Cunio.
You can read more about them here.
