SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt – In a significant step under a newly brokered Gaza peace agreement, the Palestinian faction Hamas released 20 Israeli hostages on Tuesday, while Israel freed over 1,700 Palestinian prisoners.
The hostage release was conducted in two phases, according to Arab media reports, with an initial group of seven followed by a second group of thirteen.
In a related development, Israeli media reported that Hamas is also expected to hand over the remains of 28 deceased hostages to Israeli authorities today.
Concurrently, buses transporting Palestinian prisoners released from Israeli jails have begun arriving in Gaza and the West Bank. Reports from Arab media indicate that those arriving in Gaza will receive medical attention at the Al-Nusairat Hospital in the southern part of the territory.
The exchange sets the stage for a formal signing ceremony for the broader peace accord, scheduled to be held today in the Egyptian resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh. The event is expected to draw high-level international attendance, with confirmed attendees including U.S. President Donald Trump and Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, alongside other world leaders.
The agreement, mediated by regional and international parties, marks a pivotal moment in efforts to de-escalate prolonged hostilities in the region.
