Key facts
- Israel is expected to release 60 Palestinian detainees to Gaza on Monday.
- This is the largest release of Palestinian detainees since the October ceasefire.
- The Israeli military stated these detainees are not considered "terrorists."
- Hamas released 20 living Israeli hostages.
- Over 1,900 Palestinian prisoners and detainees are being released by Israel.
- The exchange is part of a ceasefire that pauses two years of war.
Israel is expected to release 60 Palestinian detainees to the Gaza Strip on Monday, marking the largest such release since a ceasefire deal in October, according to Haaretz. The Israeli military stated that these individuals are not considered "terrorists," distinguishing them from those freed under the earlier agreement.
Hamas released all 20 remaining living hostages held in Gaza on Monday, while Israel began releasing over 1,900 Palestinian prisoners and detainees as part of a ceasefire that pauses two years of war. Cheering crowds greeted buses of prisoners in the West Bank, while families of hostages gathered in Tel Aviv. The bodies of 28 dead Israeli hostages are also expected to be handed over.
The war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. In response, Israel's offensive in Gaza has resulted in over 67,000 Palestinian deaths, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, and has destroyed large swaths of the territory, displacing about 90% of its residents. The conflict has also triggered regional tensions and led to allegations of genocide against Israel, which it denies.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged his commitment to peace, and U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to address the Knesset and attend a summit to discuss a U.S.-proposed deal and postwar plans.