U.S. President Donald Trump landed in Israel early Monday morning to bolster support for a landmark peace deal, as the first group of Israeli hostages was released from Gaza under a ceasefire agreement brokered with his direct involvement.
The Israeli Army spokesperson has confirmed that seven Israeli hostages — named Matan Angrest, brothers Gali and Ziv Berman, Alon Ohel, Eitan Mor, Guy Gilboa-Dalal, and Omri Miran — safely crossed into Israeli territory. They were handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross in Gaza City and transported by Israeli military helicopters from Re’im base to Israel, where they are undergoing initial medical assessments.
This initial release marks the first phase of a broader prisoner exchange under the ceasefire agreement. Hamas permitted the released hostages to make video calls to their families prior to their release. Video footage shown on large screens at Hostages Square in Tel Aviv featured hostages Matan Zangauker, Nimrod Cohen, and David and Ariel Cunio speaking with loved ones before the transfer. An estimated crowd of 65,000 people at Hostages Square cheered loudly when informed that Air Force One was about to fly over them carrying President Trump.
Israeli media report that a total of 20 hostages will be freed in two stages, from two separate locations in northern Gaza and Khan Younis, with the remaining 13 expected later Monday morning. The IDF stated it is prepared to receive additional hostages as they are transferred to the Red Cross.
A New Chapter for Peace
The hostage release is a critical component of the sweeping agreement between Israel and Hamas, ending two years of war that began following the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023. In exchange, Israel has started releasing 250 Palestinian prisoners convicted of deadly attacks and 1,700 others detained since the war's outset.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz emphasized the shifting dynamics: “We are shaping a new reality in Gaza. The next phase will see the disarmament of Hamas and the destruction of tunnels.”
Trump Calls It “The Biggest Thing I Was Ever Involved In”
Speaking to Axios aboard Air Force One en route to Tel Aviv, Trump described the deal as potentially “the biggest thing I was ever involved in.” He expressed confidence that the ceasefire will hold, noting that both Israel and Hamas are exhausted by years of conflict and that regional leaders are united behind the plan.
Trump’s visit to Israel will be brief — less than five hours — during which he will address the Knesset, meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and speak with families of hostages. He pledged his message to Israelis would be one of “love and peace for eternity.”
Next Stop: Peace Summit in Egypt
Following Israel, Trump will travel to Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, for an international summit attended by over two dozen Arab, Muslim, and European leaders endorsing the U.S.-led peace plan. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is expected to attend, but Netanyahu is notably absent from the guest list — a decision attributed by Trump to the Egyptian hosts.
Iran, a key backer of Hamas, was invited but declined to participate.
Honors for Trump
In recognition of his role in brokering the ceasefire and facilitating the hostage release, Israeli President Isaac Herzog announced Trump will receive the Israeli Presidential Medal of Honor, the country’s highest civilian award, in the coming months. Herzog praised Trump’s “tireless efforts” that have “laid the foundations for a new era in the Middle East.”
Additionally, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi plans to award Trump the “Order of the Nile” for his contributions to peace efforts.
Looking Ahead
Despite deep scars from the conflict, Trump voiced optimism about sustaining the ceasefire and hinted at plans to visit Gaza. He credited his controversial strike on Iranian nuclear facilities earlier this year with weakening Hamas’s backers and enabling regional cooperation.
“This is just the beginning,” Trump said. “Peace is possible — and we’re proving it.”
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