After 737 days, 20 Israeli hostages, who were abducted by Hamas on October 7, 2023, reunited with their loved ones on Monday, ending their more than two-year-long ordeal. The hostages were freed by Hamas as part of the first phase of the Gaza peace plan, proposed by US President Donald Trump. The first phase of the ceasefire deal also saw Israel free hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, as part of the swap agreement and also withdraw from Gaza to facilitate the arrival of the much-needed aid to the starving population of the enclave. 20 living Israeli hostages return home While the families of the 20 living hostages celebrated the return of their loved ones, it was also a moment of heartbreak for the 28 others, as they had to come to terms with a fear that haunted them for two years - their loved ones not coming home alive. The returning hostages are Matan Zangauker, Maxim Herkin, Segev Kalfon, Yosef-Chaim Ohana, Nimrod Cohen, Avinatan Or, Evyatar David, Eitan Horn, David Cunio, Ariel Cunio, Elkana Bohbot, Bar Kupershtein and Rom Braslavski. Only four bodies of deceased hostages will be released on Monday and there is no clarity on when the rest will be repatriated. Bipin Joshi not among those released It was a moment that the family of 24-year-old Bipin Joshi had feared. The family from Nepal had hoped to see the name of Bipin, the only non-Israeli among the living hostages, released on Monday, but it was not to be. Last week, the family released a video showing Joshi in captivity, the only known footage of him since he was abducted by Hamas, while expressing confidence that he could still be alive. Bipin had gone to Israel as a farming student less than a month before he was abducted by Hamas on October 7, 2023. Donald Trump addresses Israel’s Knesset Trump, who made the Gaza ceasefire and the hostage release, addressed Israel’s Knesset on Monday. Trump told Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that "you're not at war anymore Bibi" after pledging two vows - "never forget, and never again". Trump also said Israel "has won all they can" and that it's now time for peace "for the entire Middle East." He also asked Israel's president to issue a "pardon" to Netanyahu for any future corruption prosecutions. 154 Palestinian prisoners arrive in Egypt An Egyptian official says 154 Palestinian prisoners who were released and deported by Israel arrived in Egypt at the Rafah crossing with Gaza. The freed prisoners were to be sent to third countries as part of the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, said the official, who has direct knowledge of the deal’s implementation. The prisoners were among more than 1,900 Palestinians being freed by Israel in exchange for Hamas’ release of its remaining hostages. Aid scale-up for Gaza has begun, say UN aid agencies UN aid agencies reported significant positive developments in getting aid into Gaza. “Our humanitarian scale-up in Gaza is well underway,” said UN humanitarian agency OCHA, which noted that it had secured Israeli approval for 190,000 tons of food, shelter items, medicine and other supplies to enter the Strip, 20,000 more than previously agreed. For the first time since March, cooking gas has been allowed to enter the Strip. In addition, “more tents for displaced families, frozen meat, fresh fruit, flour and medicines also crossed into Gaza throughout the day on Sunday", OCHA said. Crucially, the aid agency reported that its workers and partners were now able to move more easily “in multiple areas” – a welcome development after constant access restrictions imposed by the Israeli authorities.
