Release of Remaining Hostages by Hamas

Hamas has started releasing the last 20 living hostages held in Gaza, marking the end of a harrowing 737-day captivity. This development follows a significant peace agreement brokered by President Trump.

The Israel Defense Forces announced on Monday morning that Red Cross personnel successfully transferred the first seven hostages to the Israeli army. Among those freed are Gali Burman, Ziv Burman, Matan Angrest, Alon Oher, Omri Milan, Eitan Mor, and Guy Gilboa Dalal.

The remaining 13 hostages are anticipated to be released imminently.

Meanwhile, the bodies of 28 individuals remain in the Palestinian enclave and are expected to be returned within a few days.

This release signals an end to a two-year ordeal for those who survived Israel’s intense military operation focused on dismantling Hamas.

The turmoil began with the October 7, 2023, terrorist attack in southern Israel, which initially captured over 250 hostages.

Previous hostages, rescued or released in past negotiations, have described the horrifying conditions they experienced. Many reported instances of torture, severe malnourishment, and other inhumane treatment.

For instance, one hostage, Evyatar David, was made to dig his own grave for a Hamas propaganda video released in August, showing him in a significantly weakened state.

In a grim turn of events, Hamas executed six hostages in September 2024 when Israeli forces drew near their hiding location.

The hostages’ release is a critical moment in the ongoing Gaza war and represents a step toward concluding the conflict as outlined in President Trump’s 20-point peace initiative. Following a cease-fire agreement, Israel has pulled back its military forces from large areas of Gaza and halted assaults on Hamas.

Looking forward, a complex agreement is set to unfold, which will involve President Trump and neighboring Middle Eastern countries collaborating to compel Hamas to disarm and give up its control.

As part of the agreement, Hamas is to surrender the bodies of all missing individuals, along with any surviving hostages, and an international initiative will focus on locating the deceased.

The extent of casualties among Hamas and its allies during the conflict, which has devastated many regions of Gaza and targeted the group’s network of tunnels, remains uncertain.

The surviving hostages slated for release have been verified by both Israel and Hamas, and include:

• Matan Angrest, 22
• Gali Burman, 28
• Ziv Burman, 28
• Elkanah Beaubut, 36
• Rom Braslavski, 21
• Nimrod Cohen, 20
• Ariel Kunio, 28
• David Kunio, 35
• Evyatar David, 24
• Guy Gilboa Dalal, 24
• Maxim Harkin, 37
• Eitan Horn, 38
• Segev Calfon, 27
• Burl Kuperstein, 23
• Omri Milan, 48
• Eitan Abraham Mor, 25
• Joseph Chaim Ohana, 25
• Aron Orel, 24
• Abinathan Oru, 32
• Matan Zangaukar, 25

Moreover, 26 individuals are presumed deceased, which includes:

• Inver Hayman, 27
• Tamir Adal, 38
• Mohammad Alatrash, 39
• Sahar Baluch, 24
• Uriel Baruch, 35
• Amiram Cooper, 85
• Itai Chen, 19, Israeli-American
• Oz Daniel, 19
• Ronen Engel, 54
• Ran Gviri, 24
• Manny Godard, 73
• Tal Haimi, 41
• Asaf Hammami, 40
• Guy Illouz, 26
• Eitan Levy, 53
• Eliyahu Margalit, 75
• Joshua Morrell, 21
• Omer Neutra, 21, from New York
• Sontaya Okhara Shiri
• Dror Orr, 48
• Daniel Perez, 22
• Sudisak Rintalak
• Lior Rudaev, 61
• Yossi Shalabi, 53
• Arie Zarmanovic, 85
• Hadar Goldin, 25

As for Bipin Joshi, 24, and Tamir Nimrodi, 20, their statuses were not publicly known prior to this exchange.

The Red Cross is coordinating with the Israeli military for the safe removal of the hostages, who will then be transported to a medical facility for care.

Once all hostages have crossed the border, the IDF intends to release around 2,000 Palestinian detainees, including approximately 250 serving life sentences.

This hostage exchange is pivotal within Trump’s ceasefire deal, aimed at facilitating humanitarian relief into the war-affected areas of Gaza.

Conveniently, the exchange coincides with President Trump’s planned visit to Israel, intended to commemorate the conclusion of the Gaza conflict and honor the return of American prisoners of war.