First seven Israeli hostages are handed to the Red Cross as prisoner exchange begins: Crowds gather in Tel Aviv for emotional reunion

Hamas released seven of the 20 surviving Israeli hostages after more than two years of captivity.

Israelis prepare to welcome home the last living hostages in Gaza and mourn the return of the dead; The IDF says the Red Cross is on its way to meet them.

The Red Cross confirmed on Monday that they had begun the process of handing over 20 Hamas detainees.

“The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) launched a multi-phase operation to facilitate the release and transfer of hostages and detainees as part of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas,” the statement said.

The IDF announced on Monday morning that the Red Cross would go to a rendezvous point in northern Gaza where ‘several hostages will be detained’.

They added that they were ready to receive additional hostages, who were expected to be transferred to the Red Cross later.

Israeli security explained BBC He confirmed that the release of the first hostages was imminent and that the Israeli Air Force was preparing two helicopters to bring the 20 people home.

Hamas confirmed the names of live hostages to be returned and more than 1,700 Palestinian detainees to be released.

President Donald Trump is coming to the region with other leaders to discuss the US proposed agreement and post-war plans.

Humanitarian aid is expected to increase in Gaza, where hundreds of thousands of people are homeless and in the grip of famine.

While significant questions remain about the future of Hamas and Gaza, the exchange of hostages and prisoners marks an important step towards ending the deadliest war ever between Israel and the militant group.

Ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas puts an end to two years of war following the attacks

As expectations grow, major Israeli television stations are broadcasting special nightly broadcasts ahead of the hostages’ release. People began gathering in front of the big screen in Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square before dawn.

‘It’s very exciting,’ said Meir Kaller, who spent a sleepless night there.

The return of the hostages marked the beginning of a painful period for Israel. Since their capture in the October 2023 Hamas attack that sparked the war, news programs have commemorated their captivity and Israelis have worn yellow badges and ribbons in solidarity.

Tens of thousands of people joined their families in weekly demonstrations calling for their release.

As the war dragged on, demonstrators accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of dragging his feet for political ends while accusing Hamas of intransigence. Last week, under heavy international pressure and increasing isolation against Israel, the bitter enemies agreed to a ceasefire.

With the release of the hostages, the urgency of the war will effectively end for many Israelis.

The statement came as Trump arrived in Tel Aviv on Monday to see the peace deal implemented and speak to the Israeli parliament.

It is scheduled to land in the Israeli city just after 9 a.m. local time.

Trump gives thumbs up as he boards Air Force One from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland en route to Israel

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer arrives at Sharm El Sheikh International Airport ahead of the Sharm El Sheikh Peace Summit in Egypt

Aboard Air Force One, Trump said he was hopeful the hostages could be released sooner than expected, but added: ‘It was actually great to catch them because we were involved and they were in places you don’t want to know about.’

He spoke to reporters just before boarding the plane at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland and talked about the size of the deal.

‘There were 500,000 people in Israel yesterday and today, Muslim and Arab countries are all cheering. Everyone cheers at the same time; “This has never happened before,” he said.

‘Often, if one is cheering the other is not; The other is the exact opposite. For the first time, everyone is surprised and excited about this situation.

‘It’s an honor to be involved in this and we’re going to have a great time and it’s going to be something that’s never happened before.’

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday night that Monday was the “beginning of a new path.”

He told relatives of the remaining hostages that their release was “a historic event that some did not believe would happen.”

Netanyahu added: ‘Together we will continue to win, and together with God’s help we will guarantee the eternity of the country and the land of Israel.’

On Sunday, Hamas moved all surviving hostages to three different locations in the Gaza Strip for release.

While special forces were ready to intervene if the gangs tried to attack them, the Israel Defense Forces warned that any provocation or deviation from the plan would be responded to.

After 738 days in captivity, the hostages are expected to be taken to Re’im military base in southern Israel, where medical teams can evaluate them before meeting their families.

Those in the worst condition will be taken by helicopter to hospitals near Tel Aviv.

President Trump will arrive in Israel on Monday morning to deliver a historic speech to the Knesset to celebrate the end of the war.

Sir Keir Starmer will also attend the peace summit in Egypt, where he is expected to heap praise on Trump and the diplomatic efforts of Egypt, Qatar and Türkiye.

Trump’s convoy will travel via Route 1 to Jerusalem, where he will give a historic speech at the Knesset, the Israeli parliament.

He will also meet with the families of the freed hostages before returning via the same route to Ben Gurion Airport and departing for a summit in Egypt to discuss the future of Gaza.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog announced that he will award the American leader the Israeli Presidential Medal of Honor, the country’s highest civilian honor.

Israelis gathered in Hostages Square sent a message to President Trump who came to Tel Aviv

People listen to songs played on a piano in Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, Israel, on October 12, 2025

Sir Keir is among the world leaders who will attend the meeting at a time when the world hopes for an uneasy peace to continue.

He will say: ‘We are determined to seize this opportunity to deliver lasting peace and a stable, secure future for the whole region… The UK will support the next phase of talks to ensure the full implementation of the peace plan so that people on both sides can rebuild their lives in safety and security.’

But Sir Keir will have bridges to build after Israeli deputy foreign minister Sharren Haskel rejected Cabinet minister Bridget Phillipson’s claim that Britain played a ‘key role’ in the ceasefire agreement.

Ilan Dalal, the father of hostage Guy Gilboa-Dalal, told Israeli media on Sunday night that the first thing he would do when he saw his son was “hug him, smell him and tell him the nightmare is over.”

‘I don’t know what kind of son I’ll have back, and I hope he won’t be too damaged to rebuild his life,’ she said.

Trump greets Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) upon his arrival at the White House on September 29, 2025 in Washington.

Israel said that only after accounting for all of Re’im’s residents would they ‘start the engines’ of the vehicles that took the first 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and terrorists to freedom.

Meanwhile, Israel’s National Institute of Forensic Medicine is preparing to identify the remains of 28 hostages and determine their causes of death.

‘We want to understand what happened to provide families with full information, closure and information,’ said Dr Chen Kugel.

During the last ceasefire, Hamas cruelly sent back the wrong body in exchange for a hostage.

The group is also pushing for the release of high-profile terrorists, including Marwan Barghouti, although Israel denies this.

They reportedly offered the early release of the hostages if Netanyahu agreed to give them Barghouti, but they were rejected.

IDF chief of staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir declared “victory” against Hamas on Sunday, praising the military crackdown and a “complementary diplomatic move” to end the war.

Defense Minister Israel Katz said that the Israeli Defense Forces were instructed to destroy all remaining Hamas tunnels in Gaza.

The terrorist group has agreed to give up all control of the Gaza Strip, a source told AFP news agency. However, shocking images yesterday showed armed gangs, who reportedly executed Hamas’ rivals in the streets on the grounds that they cooperated with Israel, engaging in clashes in Gaza City.

Palestinians walk among destroyed buildings in Gaza City on Sunday, October 12, 2025

At least 27 people were killed in clashes between Hamas and armed militias, the BBC reported Sunday night.

The 20-item peace plan states that Israel should maintain an open-ended military presence along the border in Gaza.

An international force consisting largely of soldiers from Arab and Muslim countries will be responsible for the security of the region.

The Israeli army will continue defensive operations in the approximately 50 percent of Gaza it still controls after withdrawing to the agreed lines.

There are no plans to send British troops to the multinational force to monitor the ceasefire.