American President Donald Trump cannot be denied a sense of timing. His plane landed in Tel Aviv on Monday morning less than an hour after the first seven of the twenty surviving Israeli hostages were handed over by Hamas to the International Red Cross. The announcement led to “frenzied joy” in the so-called Hostage Square in Tel Aviv, according to reports. NRCjournalist Hugo Schiffers. Thousands of people had already gathered there before the sun rose.
Since October 7, 2023, family and friends of hostages who were kidnapped by Hamas and other militant groups have been gathering on the square. A few hours later it was reported that the remaining living hostages had also been handed over to the Red Cross. Images show armed fighters escorting Red Cross vehicles into Gaza. The Times of Israel reported that Hamas had the hostages video call their families prior to their release. The Israeli government spread images of some hostages who, apparently, were in good health. For example, the now 25-year-old Eitan Mor with his parents. He was working as a security guard at the NOVA music festival two years ago when he was kidnapped by Hamas.
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Twenty living Israeli hostages released by Hamas
Internal struggle in Gaza
International media also reported on Monday morning that buses carrying Palestinian prisoners were moving. In exchange for the release of the hostages, Israel must release 1,700 Palestinian prisoners captured after October 7, 2023. Many of them were held without formal charges or trial. 250 life prisoners are also released, although 15 of them are exiled abroad.
Meanwhile, there are fears of an internal armed struggle in the parts of Gaza from which Israel is withdrawing. Fighting broke out between rival groups on Sunday evening, killing 27 people, according to the BBC. On the government plane, Trump told journalists that the US has agreed to a “temporary” dealarmed action by Hamas in Gaza in order to “keep order” as a kind of Palestinian police organization.
Award
Trump was scheduled to address the Israeli parliament around noon. He will later travel to the Egyptian seaside resort of Sharm el-Sheikh where he will chair a summit together with Egyptian President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi at which the ceasefire will be sealed. A large number of government leaders are present, as is UN Secretary General António Guterres. Key players Israel and Hamas are not present.
Israel informed Trump on Monday that he will receive the country’s highest award, a medal of honor. This will be pinned to Trump sometime in the coming months, Israeli President Herzog said.
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