Israel said it released more than 1,900 Palestinian prisoners Monday as part of a ceasefire deal that also secured the release of the 20 remaining living hostages held in Gaza.
The exchange marked the first phase of the Middle East peace deal that President Trump announced late September. The moment marked a major milestone in the effort to end the fighting in Gaza, though many questions remain over later phases of Trump’s peace plan.
Of those freed, approximately 1,700 were captured in Gaza during the two-year war, while another 250 were serving prison sentences, most of them convicted for deadly attacks on Israelis, as well as lesser charges.
Of those 250, Israel said 154 were sent to Egypt, where they would then be sent to third countries. The remaining Palestinians returned to homes in East Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza.
Israeli officials confirmed that Hamas had transferred all 20 remaining hostages to the custody of the Red Cross. Seven were released initially, followed by 13 others. The hostages were accompanied by the Israeli military and were set to undergo medical assessments.
World leaders praised the hostage and prisoner releases as they called for all sides to commit to ending the fighting and rebuilding Gaza, which has been decimated during two years of war.
Hamas, the militant group that rules over Gaza, said Monday that it would release the bodies of four of 28 deceased Israeli hostages. It was not immediately clear when the rest of them would return to Israel, though Hamas has committed to returning all of them.
Hamas kidnapped 251 people during its terrorist attacks on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.
The Associated Press contributed.
