Turning Point in Gaza: IDF Confirms All Living Hostages Freed Under U.S.-Brokered Peace Accord
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Monday announced that there are no more living Israeli hostages in the custody of the militant group Hamas, confirming the release of all remaining captives under a U.S.-brokered ceasefire deal.
In a post on its official X (formerly Twitter) account, the Israeli military said, “Thirteen returning hostages are being escorted by IDF and ISA forces on their way back to Israel.” The statement added pointedly, “There are no more living Israeli hostages in Hamas captivity.”
Israeli officials confirmed that all 20 surviving captives have now been freed in Gaza under the terms of former U.S. President Donald Trump’s 20-point peace and prisoner exchange plan, which also provides for humanitarian relief in the war-torn enclave.
Earlier in the day, Hamas released seven Israeli hostages into the custody of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Gaza, completing the agreed release.
Upon their return, the IDF said the freed hostages will undergo “an initial medical assessment to evaluate their condition after being held captive by Hamas.”
“The commanders and soldiers of the IDF salute and embrace the returning hostages as they make their way home to the State of Israel,” the military stated.
The IDF disclosed that it has launched Operation ‘Returning Home’, an initiative designed to ensure the safe repatriation, rehabilitation, and reintegration of the freed hostages.
In a separate communication, the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit appealed for public restraint and sensitivity in handling information concerning the released individuals.
“We appeal to the public to act responsibly and with sensitivity, respecting the privacy of the returning hostages and relying solely on official information,” the statement read, emphasizing that the request was meant to “protect the dignity and safety of those being released.”
The mass release marks a major diplomatic milestone following a ceasefire agreement mediated by President Trump. The deal reportedly includes the release of nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli detention in exchange for the Israeli hostages, alongside the unhindered flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza, where food shortages and famine conditions have worsened in recent months.
The development has sparked cautious optimism among international observers, who see it as a potential gateway to renewed peace efforts in the Middle East after months of devastating conflict.
