Hamas released seven Israeli hostages on Monday morning under a U.S.-brokered peace agreement aimed at ending the Gaza conflict and securing the freedom of remaining captives.
Nepal Verified News
Mon Oct 13 2025
In a major step under the Gaza peace deal mediated by the Trump administration, Hamas freed seven Israeli hostages early Monday, marking the first phase of a broader agreement that could end years of conflict and captivity.
The hostages, mostly civilians, were handed over to the Red Cross around 8 a.m. local time, and are now being transferred to Israeli military custody for medical evaluation before reuniting with their families. The remaining 13 hostages are expected to be released later in the day.
According to Israeli officials, all hostages had been held underground in Gaza for more than two years, enduring harsh conditions with limited food, water, and medical care. Many are feared to be in critical health.
Under the agreement, Hamas is also required to locate and return the bodies of 28 deceased hostages, including two American citizens, Itay Chen and Omer Neutra. A multinational task force will coordinate efforts to identify burial sites and retrieve remains.
In return, Israel will release 250 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences, along with 1,700 detainees captured in Gaza after the October 7 attacks. However, Israel has refused to free top Hamas commanders or high-profile prisoners such as Ibrahim Hamed and Marwan Barghouti.
The release coincided with President Trump’s arrival in Israel, as part of a regional tour promoting his peace plan, a development seen as a potential turning point in the long-running Gaza crisis.
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