Darwin, 13 October-
Thirteen more hostages handed over to the Red Cross as part of the U.S.-brokered ceasefire deal
Hamas has released all the remaining Israeli hostages in its custody, marking a major breakthrough in the ongoing ceasefire agreement.
According to a report by The Times of Israel, the Palestinian group handed over 13 additional hostages to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on Monday. Earlier, seven hostages had already been transferred to members of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) through the Red Cross.
This development means that for the first time in two years of war, no living Israeli hostages remain in Hamas captivity. The group is also expected to return the bodies of 28 deceased hostages later today, The Times of Israel added.
The Israeli military confirmed that all released hostages would be taken to hospitals for medical and psychological evaluation. Helicopters from the Israeli Air Force have been placed on standby to transport those requiring urgent care.
The handover is part of the recent ceasefire deal mediated by U.S. President Donald Trump, under which Hamas is releasing hostages in exchange for Israel allowing humanitarian aid into Gaza and freeing a number of Palestinian detainees.
The Gaza war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a surprise attack that resulted in the abduction of about 250 people from southern Israel. Over the past two years, the conflict has claimed thousands of lives and displaced hundreds of thousands more.
Declaring the Gaza war “over,” President Trump described the ceasefire and hostage exchange as a “historic turning point” for the Middle East. He expressed optimism that both Israel and Palestine would now move toward lasting peace.
The Red Cross-supervised hostage release is being hailed as one of the most visible milestones in implementing the peace accord. The humanitarian organization continues to play a crucial role in establishing safe corridors in Gaza and providing medical aid to the wounded.
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