‘Hostages set for release’ and ‘Hope amid the chaos’
The imminent release of Israeli hostages by Hamas was the focus of most newspapers on Monday morning, with the Times calling it “a historic opportunity to end the war in Gaza.” According to the newspaper, Hamas said they had all 20 living hostages and would begin releasing them on Monday as part of the first phase of the ceasefire plan. US President Donald Trump is expected to land in Israel shortly after the first hostages are released.
The Guardian newspaper says, “They set out to liberate the hostages as an important step to end the Gaza war,” and reports that Israeli hostages released by Hamas will be taken to a military base to be reunited with their families or taken to a hospital if medical care is needed. Following their return to Israeli territory, Israel is expected to release approximately 2,000 Palestinian detainees in what the newspaper calls the “next critical phase” of the ceasefire agreement.
The Mirror’s headline reads “Hope amid chaos” and includes a photo of an aid truck in Khan Younis overrun by people struggling with supplies. The newspaper states that Israel and Gaza are “on the verge of a precarious peace” but draws attention to concerns that “one wrong move will lead to disaster.”
The Mail describes Monday as a “day of fate” and writes that the “eyes of the world” are on Gaza and Israel awaiting the hostage exchange.
Metro says, “The day they fear will never come,” and states that “last minute tensions” continue in Israel despite accepting the peace agreement negotiated by Trump. The newspaper states that Israeli special forces were on hand to remove the hostages from Gaza on Monday and had orders to disperse the crowd using air strikes “if necessary”.
The US president is seen front and center at the Telegraph as he boards Air Force One as it departs for Israel on Sunday. The paper reports that Sir Keir Starmer will announce £20m of British aid to Gaza on Monday as he joins other world leaders for a “peace summit” in Egypt ahead of the release of the hostages.
i Paper is also leading the “historic summit” in Egypt, reporting that former prime minister Sir Tony Blair will join Sir Keir and leaders of 20 other countries at the signing of the ceasefire on Monday. At Trump’s request, Sir Tony is expected to take a role in the “Peace Board”, which the president said would oversee the management of Gaza after the ceasefire.
A “revolutionary new MRI procedure” is the lead story in the Daily Express, reporting on “pioneering research” that has led to the development of an MRI scan that can take less than seven minutes. This “groundbreaking development” could double the NHS’s screening capacity and increase dementia diagnosis rates, according to the paper.
US investment banking revenue is expected to exceed $9bn (£6.7bn) for the first time since 2021, with the Financial Times attributing this to the “Trump effect”. The 13 percent increase over last year “reflects growing optimism on Wall Street,” the newspaper says.
Footballer Marcus Rashford has been hit by delays building his “dream home” in Cheshire, which could cost up to £15 million, The Sun has revealed.
According to the Daily Star, the World Conker Championship was won by King George III. Charles saved. The newspaper says the King donated 300 horse chestnuts from his Windsor estate to the contest.
