Hamas releases all living hostages, Israel frees prisoners; Trump hails 'end of long nightmare'

Trump's speech in Israel parliament interrupted by protest

- 

DEIR AL-BALAH (Gaza Strip): After nearly two years of conflict that killed more than 67,000 Palestinians-including women and children-and over 1,200 Israelis, a landmark ceasefire on Monday brought a rare moment of relief to a warweary region. All 20 remaining hostages held in Gaza were freed, alongside hundreds of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, prompting jubilant celebrations in public squares across Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza. Hamas also agreed to release the bodies of four of the 28 deceased Israeli captives, though the timing for returning the remainder remains uncertain. The conflict, which displaced nearly 90 per cent of Gaza's 2 million residents and left much of the territory in ruins, drew international concern, with UN officials describing the toll on civilians as potentially amounting to genocide. US President Donald Trump hailed the developments in an address to Israel's parliament, calling it "the end of a long and painful nightmare," and prepared to travel to Egypt for a regional summit aimed at postwar reconstruction, governance of Gaza, and efforts to secure a lasting peace.

The exchange of hostages and prisoners marked a historic moment in the protracted war between Israel and Hamas. Israel has released more than 1,900 Palestinian prisoners under the deal, including 250 serving life sentences for attacks on Israelis and more than 1,700 seized from Gaza during the conflict without formal charges. Some of the freed prisoners were sent into exile, while over 150 arrived in Egypt via the Gaza-Rafah crossing early Monday afternoon, according to an Egyptian official who spoke on condition of anonymity.