First Group of Hostages Released by Hamas, Transferred to Red Cross in Gaza Ceasefire Deal

In the first step of the Gaza ceasefire deal, Hamas has released a group of seven hostages to the Red Cross, with more releases expected soon as part of the ongoing truce efforts

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Gaza ceasefire live updates: Hamas transferred seven Israeli hostages to the custody of the International Committee of the Red Cross on Monday, marking the first group to be freed under the ongoing Israel-Hamas ceasefire. There is no immediate update on the hostages’ condition. Hamas has stated that a total of 20 living hostages will be exchanged for more than 1,900 Palestinian prisoners currently held by Israel.

The remaining 13 hostages are expected to be handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross in the coming hours, according to reports. Adding to the high-stakes atmosphere, US President Donald Trump is set to arrive in Israel on Monday before heading to Egypt for a regional peace summit.

In a statement issued shortly after the release of the first batch of hostages, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said the seven released hostages “are on their way to IDF and ISA forces in the Gaza Strip.” The statement added, “The IDF is prepared to receive additional hostages who are expected to be transferred to the Red Cross later on.”

However, it remains uncertain whether the remains of up to 28 deceased hostages will be returned simultaneously. According to the Associated Press, an international body” is expected to assist in locating the remains if they are not released on Monday, as Israel said.

Palestinian prisoners slated for release

As part of the ceasefire terms, Israel plans to release around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, including 1,700 individuals detained from Gaza during the conflict without formal charges.

Also among those expected to be freed are about 250 Palestinians convicted over attacks that killed or injured Israelis, along with others held on lesser charges.

Trump to visit Israel and Egypt

Donald Trump, who played a key role in brokering the ceasefire, is scheduled to arrive in Israel on Monday morning for a brief but symbolic visit.

The White House said Trump will meet families of hostages and address Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, before traveling to Egypt for a “peace summit” with regional and global leaders, reported AP. The US President is expected to return to Washington overnight Tuesday.

Israel-Gaza hostage release: What to expect next

The next 24 hours are set to be pivotal for the fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas:

1. Hamas hands over first 7 Israeli hostages of the remaining 20 to Red Cross under ceasefire on Monday. No immediate update was given on the condition of the released hostages.

2. The remains of up to 28 others believed to have died in Gaza are unlikely to be returned immediately.

3. As part of the Gaza peace agreement, Israel will release around 2,000 Palestinian detainees. This includes roughly 1,700 people seized from Gaza during the war, as well as about 250 others convicted for attacks that killed or injured Israelis.

4. Hundreds of aid trucks are expected to begin entering Gaza from Egypt. Around 400 trucks were already lined up on Sunday said an AP report, while Israeli authorities said the number will rise to 600 daily under the deal.

5. Donald Trump will arrive in Israel on Monday morning in a visit. He is expected to meet families of hostages and address the Knesset before leaving for Egypt.

Oct 13, 2025 11:55 AM IST

Gaza ceasefire live updates: Freed hostages en route to Israel, to undergo medical evaluation, says IDF

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Israel Security Agency (ISA), in a joint statement, said that the seven hostages released earlier on Monday are currently being accompanied by their personnel on their return to Israel. The hostages will undergo an initial medical assessment upon arrival.

Oct 13, 2025 11:42 AM IST

Gaza ceasefire live updates: Israel says prisoner release to follow only after hostages cross border

Gaza ceasefire live updates: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s spokesperson said the Palestinian prisoners will be released only after Israel confirms that all hostages scheduled for release on Tuesday have crossed into Israeli territory, reported AFP.

The spokesperson added that Israel does not expect all of the bodies of dead hostages to be returned on Monday.

Oct 13, 2025 11:32 AM IST

Gaza ceasefire live updates: Nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners board buses to meet families in Gaza

Gaza ceasefire live updates: As part of the ceasefire agreement, Israel is set to release nearly 2,000 Palestinian detainees and convicted prisoners later on Monday.

According to an official involved in the operation cited by Reuters, 1,966 detainees boarded buses at Israeli prisons and most are expected to be released at Gaza’s Nasser Hospital on Monday.

Oct 13, 2025 11:31 AM IST

Gaza ceasefire live updates: Handover of remaining 13 hostages expected to follow

Following the release of the first seven hostages, the handover of the 13 remaining surviving hostages is expected next.

This will be followed by the return of 28 other Israeli hostages, including 26 confirmed dead and two whose fate remains unknown.

Oct 13, 2025 11:24 AM IST

Gaza ceasefire live updates: IDF says more hostages expected later on

Gaza ceasefire live updates: According to a joint announcement by the IDF and ISA, seven hostages have been handed over to the Red Cross and are en route to Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip.

The military added that it is prepared to receive additional hostages “later on”, as part of the ongoing ceasefire and hostage release operation.

Oct 13, 2025 11:18 AM IST

Gaza ceasefire live updates: Germany says Qatar, Egypt, Turkey press Hamas for disarmament

Gaza ceasefire live updates: Germany’s foreign minister Johann Wadephul said on Monday that Qatar, Egypt, Turkey, and other Arab states are applying pressure on Hamas in Gaza to disarm, supporting further peace negotiations with Israel.

“All these states don’t want Hamas to continue to be active. They want disarmament and in this respect we have a good pressure scenario, because it won’t work without pressure,” Wadephul told Deutschlandfunk radio, reported Reuters.

The statement comes amid ongoing efforts to stabilize the region following the recent ceasefire and hostage release deal.

Oct 13, 2025 10:54 AM IST

Gaza ceasefire live updates: Hamas hands over first 7 hostages to Red Cross, Israel confirms

Gaza ceasefire live updates: Hamas released seven hostages into the custody of the International Committee of the Red Cross on Monday, marking the first batch to be freed under the Gaza ceasefire, reported AP.

There is no immediate information on their condition.

Hamas has said that 20 living hostages will be exchanged for more than 1,900 Palestinian prisoners currently held by Israel as part of the ceasefire agreement.

Oct 13, 2025 10:41 AM IST

Gaza ceasefire live updates: Red Cross launches multi-phase operation to oversee Gaza hostage and prisoner releases

The International Committee of the Red Cross has begun “a multi-phase operation” to oversee the release of hostages and prisoners under the Gaza ceasefire, according to AP.

Oct 13, 2025 10:32 AM IST

Gaza ceasefire live updates: Red Cross convoy en route to collect first hostages from Gaza

Gaza ceasefire live updates: A Red Cross convoy is on its way to pick up the first batch of Israeli hostages to be freed by Hamas under the Gaza ceasefire deal, the Israeli military said on Monday.

An army statement said the handover would take place at “a meeting point in the northern Gaza Strip where several hostages will be transferred.”

“The IDF is prepared to receive additional hostages who are expected to be transferred to the Red Cross later on,” the statement added, following Hamas’s publication of a list of 20 surviving hostages it intends to release.

Oct 13, 2025 10:28 AM IST

Gaza ceasefire live updates: Red Cross en route to collect hostages in northern Gaza, says Israeli military

Gaza ceasefire live updates: The International Committee of the Red Cross was moving on Monday toward a site in the northern Gaza Strip to collect several hostages held by Hamas, the Israeli military said, reported Reuters.

The military added that other hostages would be released later.

This comes after Hamas published a list of 20 living hostages it plans to release, alongside over 1,900 Palestinian prisoners that Israel is set to free under the ceasefire agreement.

Oct 13, 2025 10:25 AM IST

Gaza ceasefire live updates: Iran thanks Egypt for Sharm El-Sheikh Summit invite, cites conditions for engagement

Gaza ceasefire live updates: Iran’s foreign minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi wrote on X that the country is grateful for Egypt President El-Sisi’s invitation to attend the Sharm El-Sheikh Summit. However, he emphasized that neither he nor President Masoud Pezeshkian can engage with counterparts “who have attacked the Iranian People and continue to threaten and sanction us.”

“Having said that, Iran welcomes any initiative that ends Israel’s Genocide in Gaza and ensures the expulsion of occupation forces. Palestinians are fully entitled to secure their fundamental right of self-determination, and all States remain obliged, more than ever, to assist them in their lawful & legitimate cause,” Araghchi added.

He further stressed Iran’s commitment to regional stability: “Iran has always been, and will always remain, a vital force for peace in the region. Contrary to the genocidal Israeli regime, Iran is not after Forever Wars —particularly on the dime of its purported allies— but seeks Forever Peace, Prosperity, and Cooperation.”

The summit is set to be chaired by US President Donald Trump on his peace plan for Gaza and will be attended by various world leaders including UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

Both Israel and Hamas will not attend.

Oct 13, 2025 10:09 AM IST

Gaza ceasefire live updates: Here are the 20 Israeli hostages Hamas will release

Gaza ceasefire live updates: On Monday, Palestinian group Hamas released the names of the 20 Israeli hostages scheduled to be freed under the first phase of the ceasefire agreement with Israel, reported Reuters.

The names included Bar Abraham Kupershtein, Evyatar David, Yosef-Chaim Ohana, Segev Kalfon, Avinatan Or, Elkana Bohbot, Maxim Herkin, Nimrod Cohen, Matan Angrest, Matan Zangauker, Eitan Horn, Eitan Abraham Mor, Gali Berman, Ziv Berman, Omri Miran, Alon Ohel, Guy Gilboa-Dalal, Rom Braslavski, Ariel Cunio and David Cunio.

Oct 13, 2025 10:04 AM IST

Gaza ceasefire live updates: Crowds gather in Tel Aviv as Trump heads to Israel for hostage release

(AFP)

Gaza ceasefire live updates: Early on October 13, 2025, people gathered at Hostages Square in Tel Aviv holding US and Israeli flags along with a portrait of US President Donald Trump, as showed in picture by news agency AFP.

Hamas is set to release all surviving hostages on Monday in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, coinciding with Trump’s visit to the region for a peace summit. Before leaving for Israel, the US president has declared the war “over” in Gaza.

Trump’s lightning visit to Israel and Egypt is aimed at celebrating his role in brokering last week’s ceasefire and hostage release deal.

Oct 13, 2025 9:57 AM IST

Gaza ceasefire live updates: Hamas releases names of 20 living hostages to be freed under ceasefire

Gaza ceasefire live updates: Hamas on Monday released a list of the 20 living hostages it will free as part of the Israel-Hamas war ceasefire, reported AP.

The announcement comes as hostages and Palestinian prisoners are expected to be released Monday, coinciding with US President Donald Trump’s trip to Israel and Egypt to mark the ceasefire.

The International Committee of the Red Cross is expected to oversee the releases, which will include nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.

Oct 13, 2025 9:50 AM IST

Gaza ceasefire live updates: Trump and Sisi to chair Summit for Peace today as Gaza ceasefire holds

Gaza ceasefire live updates: US President Donald Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi are chairing a gathering of world leaders dubbed the “Summit for Peace” to support ending the two-year war in Gaza following the breakthrough ceasefire deal.

According to news agency AP, Israel and Hamas have no direct contacts and are not expected to attend Monday’s summit. Israel has also rejected any role in Gaza for the internationally backed Palestinian Authority, though its leader is expected to attend.

Leaders from Turkey, Jordan, Britain, Germany, France, Italy, the United Nations, and the European Union have all confirmed their attendance.

The summit will be held in the Egyptian Red Sea resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh.

Oct 13, 2025 9:42 AM IST

Gaza ceasefire live updates: Why is Israel awarding Trump its highest civilian honour?

Gaza ceasefire live updates: Israel President Isaac Herzog announced that US President Donald Trump will receive the country’s highest civilian award for his efforts in securing the release of hostages from Gaza and helping end the two-year war.

“Through his tireless efforts, President Trump has not only helped bring our loved ones home but has also laid the foundations for a new era in the Middle East built on security, cooperation, and genuine hope for a peaceful future,” Herzog said in a statement issued by his office, cited by AFP.

“It will be a great honour for me to present him with the Israeli Presidential Medal of Honour,” he added.

Herzog said the award will be presented in the “coming months” and that he will inform Trump of his decision when the US president visits Israel on Monday.

Oct 13, 2025 9:15 AM IST

Gaza ceasefire live updates: Israel to award Trump highest civilian honour for Gaza ceasefire role

Gaza ceasefire live updates: Israel President Isaac Herzog announced on Monday that he will present the country’s highest civilian award to US President Donald Trump for his role in securing the release of hostages from Gaza and helping to end the war, reported AFP.

Oct 13, 2025 8:57 AM IST

Gaza ceasefire live updates: Timing of Palestinian prisoner release not announced

Gaza ceasefire live updates: Israel expects the roughly 20 living hostages to be released together on Monday, though the timing for the release of Palestinian prisoners has not been announced.

The prisoners include 250 serving life sentences for attacks on Israelis, as well as 1,700 seized from Gaza during the war and held without charge. They will be returned to the West Bank or Gaza, or sent into exile.

While Israel considers these prisoners terrorists, many Palestinians view them as freedom fighters resisting Israeli occupation.

Israel has reportedly warned Palestinians in the West Bank against celebrating the releases, according to a prisoner’s family and a Palestinian official familiar with the plans, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of retribution, reported AP.

Oct 13, 2025 8:38 AM IST

Gaza ceasefire live updates: Israel airs special live broadcasts as hostages’ release nears

Gaza ceasefire live updates: Major Israeli TV stations aired special overnight broadcasts ahead of the hostages’ release, as anticipation built across the country, reported AP. People began gathering near a large screen in Hostages Square in Tel Aviv before dawn, bracing for the historic moment.

Oct 13, 2025 8:20 AM IST

Gaza ceasefire live updates: 26 hostages declared dead; international team to help recover missing

Gaza ceasefire live updates: Of all taken captive, Israeli authorities have formally declared 26 hostages dead, based on forensics and intelligence, reported Reuters, adding that the fate of two others remains unknown.

Hamas has said that recovering the bodies of some deceased hostages may take time, as not all burial sites are known. A special international task force is being deployed to help locate them.

Among the deceased is an Israeli soldier who died in the 2014 Israel-Hamas war. The rest were part of the 251 hostages taken during Hamas’ deadly October 7, 2023, attack, which triggered the conflict.

Some hostages were already dead when captured, while others were killed by captors or in Israeli strikes in Gaza.

Oct 13, 2025 7:59 AM IST

Gaza ceasefire live updates: Trump expected to land in Israel at 11:50 AM IST, to meet hostages’ families

Gaza ceasefire live updates: White House affiliate Rapid Response said US President Donald Trump is expected to land in Israel at about 2:20 AM Eastern Time (11:50 AM IST on Sunday).

According to the White House schedule, Trump will meet with families of the hostages and address the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, during his visit.

Oct 13, 2025 7:47 AM IST

Gaza ceasefire live updates: Trump likely to meet newly freed hostages during Israel visit

Gaza ceasefire live updates: US President Donald Trump is visiting Israel before heading to Egypt, with a tightly scheduled itinerary focused on the Gaza ceasefire.

According to the White House cited by AP, Trump will meet with families of the hostages and address the Knesset, Israel’s parliament. Vice President JD Vance said Trump is also likely to meet with the newly freed hostages.

Oct 13, 2025 7:44 AM IST

Gaza ceasefire live updates: Stage set for historic hostage return from Gaza, last 20 living captives set to be freed

Gaza ceasefire live updates: Israelis on Monday prepared to welcome home the last 20 living hostages from Gaza and mourn the return of the dead, marking a key moment in the breakthrough ceasefire after two years of war.

According to an Associated Press report, major Israeli TV stations aired special overnight broadcasts ahead of the release, and people began gathering near a large screen in Hostages Square in Tel Aviv before dawn, bracing for the historic moment.

Israel expects the 20 living hostages to be released together on Monday. However, it is unlikely that the remains of up to 28 other hostages will be returned at the same time.

Oct 13, 2025 7:34 AM IST

Gaza ceasefire live updates: ‘The war is over,’ says Trump before boarding Air Force One

Gaza ceasefire live updates: Donald Trump expressed confidence that the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas will hold, saying that people are “tired of war” after centuries of conflict.

Speaking to reporters before boarding that Air Force One to Israel, Trump was asked whether the war is over. He responded simply, “The war is over…”

On whether he believed the ceasefire deal would last, news agency ANI quoted Trump as saying, “I think it is going to hold. There are a lot of reasons why it’s going to hold. But I think people are tired of it. It’s been centuries… I think people are tired of it.”

Oct 13, 2025 7:27 AM IST

Gaza ceasefire live updates: What to expect from Trump’s Egypt visit?

Gaza ceasefire live updates: US President Donald Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi will chair a Gaza peace summit on Monday in Sharm El-Sheikh, bringing together more than 20 world leaders. Trump will participate in the conference after concluding his Israel visit on Monday morning.

The Egyptian president’s office said the gathering aims “to end the war in the Gaza Strip, enhance efforts to achieve peace and stability in the Middle East, and usher in a new era of regional security and stability,” reported AFP.

On Sunday, Egypt’s foreign ministry added that a “document ending the war in the Gaza Strip” is expected to be signed during the “historic” summit.

A diplomatic source cited by the news agency said mediators from the US, Egypt, Qatar, and likely Turkey would sign a guarantee document during the summit.

Oct 13, 2025 7:24 AM IST

Gaza ceasefire live updates: Who will attend the Gaza peace summit in Egypt?

Gaza ceasefire live updates: The Gaza peace summit in Sharm El-Sheikh on Monday will see participation from more than 20 nations, though neither Israel nor Hamas will send representatives.

According to a news agency AFP report, among the expected attendees are UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Jordan’s King Abdullah II, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Canada will be represented by Prime Minister Mark Carney.

Egypt has confirmed that 21 nations will participate, with additional representation expected from the EU, Arab League, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Pakistan, Indonesia, India, and Germany.

Iran announced on Monday that neither its President Masoud Pezeshkian nor Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi will attend, despite receiving an invitation.

Oct 13, 2025 7:22 AM IST

Gaza ceasefire live updates: Trump and Sisi to chair Gaza peace summit in Egypt

Gaza ceasefire live updates: US President Donald Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi will chair a Gaza peace summit on Monday in Sharm El-Sheikh, bringing together more than 20 world leaders.

Neither Israel nor Hamas will attend, with Netanyahu’s office confirming no Israeli officials will be present, following earlier confirmation from Hamas that it will also not send representatives.

The Egyptian president’s office said the gathering aims “to end the war in the Gaza Strip, enhance efforts to achieve peace and stability in the Middle East, and usher in a new era of regional security and stability.”

On Sunday, Egypt’s foreign ministry added that a “document ending the war in the Gaza Strip” is expected to be signed during the “historic” summit.

A diplomatic source said mediators from the US, Egypt, Qatar, and likely Turkey will sign a guarantee document at the event.

Oct 13, 2025 7:17 AM IST

Gaza ceasefire live updates: ‘Something that never happened before,’ says Trump before departing for Israel

Gaza ceasefire live updates: US President Donald Trump on Sunday boarded a flight to Israel, calling the visit “a very special time.”

“This is going to be a very special time… Everybody’s very excited about this moment in time,” Trump said before takeoff.

He described the trip as a rare occasion of collective enthusiasm, noting, “This is a very special event… Everybody’s cheering at one time. That’s never happened before. Usually, if you have one cheering, the other isn’t. The other is the opposite.”

Trump added, “This is the first time everybody is amazed and they’re thrilled, and it’s an honour to be involved.” He concluded, “We’re going to have an amazing time, and it’s going to be something that’s never happened before.”

The US President is expected to arrive in Tel Aviv early Monday morning local time.

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