The remaining 48 Israeli hostages, which includes around 20 suspected to still be alive, will be returned as part of the first phase of the announced peace deal between Israel and Hamas, NBC News reports.
Numerous residents celebrated in Tel Aviv‘s “Hostages Square” early Thursday (October 9) following President Donald Trump‘s announcement that a peace deal had been reached by Israel and Hamas, with both parties confirming the news shortly after. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum said its members felt “a mix of excitement, anticipation, and concern” following the agreement, which came two years and one day after the Israeli hostages were taken captive by Hamas.
Hamas has confirmed it will participate in the hostage and prisoner exchange, however, hasn’t said it would disarm and disband, which was a key stipulation in Trump’s proposal. The first phase also hasn’t given a medium or long-term plan on Gaza’s future as the Israel Defense Forces said it would adjust “deployment lines soon” but reiterated that parts of Gaza were “still considered a dangerous combat zone” and confirmed that troops were “deployed and operating anywhere in the Strip.”
A previous ceasefire lasted from January 19 to March 18, which was followed by a barrage of deadly airstrikes launched by Israel across the Gaza Strip. Israel blamed Hamas for the hostilities, claiming the militant group refused to meet its demand to release more hostages at the time.
Israel launched its war with Hamas following the October 7, 2023, attack on an Israeli music festival, which resulted in an estimated 1,200 deaths and 251 people being taken hostage. Israel retaliated with its war on the terror organization carried out in Gaza resulting in more than 69,000 Palestinians and more than 1,900 Israelis being killed.
A United Nations commission comprised of a team of independent experts formally accused Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza and called on the international community to end the campaign earlier this month.
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