Red Cross Launches Operation to Retrieve First Israeli Hostages from Gaza

The Red Cross announced on Monday that it has launched an operation to retrieve the first of 20 Israeli hostages still alive in Gaza, held by the militant group Hamas. The mission marks the initial phase of a ceasefire agreement aimed at ending the ongoing conflict in Gaza — a deal brokered in part by U.S. President Donald Trump.

Under the terms of the agreement, Israel was set to release about 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees on Monday. Following that, 28 additional Israeli hostages — 26 of whom have been confirmed dead, while the fate of two remains unknown — are expected to be returned.

According to officials, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) was responsible for transferring the hostages to Israeli security forces, who would then fly them by helicopter to hospitals in central Israel, where reunions with their families were to take place.

An official involved in the operation told Reuters that the ICRC convoy had reached the first collection point for hostages inside Gaza.

In Israel, crowds gathered near Re’im, a military base close to Gaza, waving national flags and waiting to welcome the hostages before they were transported to hospitals. Hundreds of people also assembled at Tel Aviv’s Hostage Square, holding flags and posters of the captives, chanting slogans of support.

Reuters footage showed around a dozen masked gunmen, dressed in black and believed to be members of Hamas’s armed wing, arriving at Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza — one of several sites where hostages were expected to be handed over to the Red Cross or where freed Palestinian prisoners might arrive. The gunmen were seen lining up near ambulances and rows of chairs arranged for a reception in the sandy courtyard.

The ceasefire and the exchange of hostages and prisoners come after two years of devastating war that expanded into a broader regional conflict involving Iran, Yemen, and Lebanon. The prolonged fighting deepened Israel’s international isolation and reshaped the Middle East’s geopolitical landscape.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One en route from Washington to Israel on Sunday, President Trump declared, “The war is over.” Asked about the region’s future, he added, “I think things will return to normal.”

Later on Monday, Trump is set to receive a ceremonial welcome when he addresses the Israeli parliament. Israeli President Isaac Herzog has announced that Trump will be awarded Israel’s highest civilian honor later this year.

Cairo Summit: Uncertain Path Ahead

The war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas militants launched an attack on Israel, killing nearly 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. According to Gaza’s health authorities, subsequent Israeli airstrikes and ground operations have devastated the enclave, killing more than 67,000 Palestinians.

Progress toward a lasting peace now hinges on global commitments expected to be discussed at a summit in Egypt’s Sharm el-Sheikh resort, where Trump will meet with more than 20 world leaders on Monday.

Many uncertainties remain. Key aspects of Trump’s 20-point peace plan are still unresolved — including who will govern the war-ravaged Gaza Strip after the fighting ends and what will become of Hamas, which has so far rejected Israel’s calls for disarmament.