Hamas has released seven hostages into the care of the Red Cross, marking the first stage of a landmark ceasefire agreement that could bring an end to two years of war in Gaza.

The hostages, whose conditions have not been immediately confirmed, are among 20 expected to be freed under the deal. In exchange, Israel will release more than 1,900 Palestinian prisoners.

News of the release prompted emotional scenes across Israel, with families and supporters breaking into cheers as television channels reported the hostages were safely in Red Cross custody. Thousands gathered at public screenings around the country, including a major event in Tel Aviv, to watch the moment unfold according to the Associated Press.

In Gaza, anticipation was also building as Palestinians awaited the release of hundreds of prisoners held in Israeli jails.

United States President Donald Trump arrived in the region alongside other world leaders to discuss the U.S.-brokered peace plan and postwar reconstruction. The truce is expected to allow a surge of humanitarian aid into Gaza, where widespread famine and homelessness have left hundreds of thousands in desperate conditions.

First hostages handed to Red Cross

Hamas published a list early Monday morning naming the 20 living hostages to be released, as well as the 1,900 Palestinian prisoners to be freed by Israel.

The hostages’ release marks a significant moment for Israel, closing a painful chapter that began with the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel in October 2023. Since then, families of the captives have held weekly rallies, demanding government action.

Under the agreement, the hostages are to be handed to the International Committee of the Red Cross and then transferred to the Israeli military before being reunited with families at the Reim base.

Officials said the remains of up to 28 hostages would be recovered separately, with an international task force coordinating efforts over the next 72 hours.

The prisoners set to be released by Israel include 250 serving life sentences for deadly attacks, along with 1,700 others detained during the war. They will be returned to Gaza or the West Bank, while some may face exile.

While Israel considers them terrorists, many Palestinians regard the prisoners as resistance fighters. Authorities in the West Bank have warned against public celebrations following the releases.

President Trump met with hostage families and newly freed captives in Israel, telling reporters before departing that “the war is over” and expressing confidence the ceasefire would hold.

He is expected to co-chair a peace summit in Egypt with President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi, attended by regional and international leaders including Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.

The U.S.-led plan outlines a framework for Gaza’s governance and reconstruction. It proposes an international body to oversee Gaza’s administration, with local technocrats managing daily affairs and an Arab-led peacekeeping force maintaining security.

Israel has withdrawn troops from parts of Gaza City and Khan Younis but maintains forces near Rafah and along the border.

The proposal also mentions the potential for a future Palestinian state, a prospect Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly rejected.

The United Nations said Israel had approved the entry of more than 190,000 metric tons of aid into Gaza, with the flow expected to rise to 600 trucks per day under the agreement.

“Much of Gaza is a wasteland,” said UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher. “We are preparing a two-month plan to restore essential services, bring in food and fuel, and begin clearing rubble.”

The war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas militants launched an unprecedented assault on Israel that killed around 1,200 people and saw 250 taken hostage.

Israel’s retaliatory offensive has since killed more than 67,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The fighting has displaced roughly 90 percent of Gaza’s two million residents and levelled much of the territory.

As the ceasefire takes hold, attention is now shifting to the enormous task of rebuilding Gaza and addressing the political future of both Hamas and Israel after two years of devastating conflict.