Hamas and Israel begin prisoner exchange; 7 hostages released

Hamas and Israel have begun a prisoner exchange under a newly implemented ceasefire, with seven Israeli hostages handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), according to Israeli media reports cited by Anadolu Agency.

The ICRC confirmed on Monday morning that it had started facilitating the release of hostages in Gaza as part of the agreement between the two sides.

Israel’s Channel 12 reported that Hamas handed seven hostages to the ICRC in the first stage of the exchange. Under the terms of the deal, more than 2,000 Palestinian prisoners are expected to be released in return for 20 Israeli hostages.

“The ICRC is supervising the release process for detainees from both parties,” the humanitarian organization said in a statement, emphasizing its neutral role in ensuring the safe handover of captives.

According to Israeli authorities, of the 251 people taken hostage during Hamas’s October 7, 2023, assault on southern Israel, 20 are believed to be alive, 26 are presumed dead, and the fate of two remains unknown. The surviving hostages — all men aged between 20 and 48 — have been held in Gaza for more than two years.

As part of the first phase of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire plan proposed by President Donald Trump, Hamas was given 72 hours to release all Israeli hostages, both living and deceased.

The ceasefire took effect at midday local time on Friday (10am UK time). Since then, tens of thousands of displaced Palestinians have begun returning toward northern Gaza, much of which was devastated during Israel’s military operations.