Hamas to Release Israeli Hostages as Trump Chairs Gaza Peace Summit
Gaza City / Sharm El Sheikh – October 12, 2025 — Hamas is set to begin the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza on...
Gaza City / Sharm El Sheikh – October 12, 2025 — Hamas is set to begin the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza on Monday morning, a senior official from the Palestinian militant group confirmed to AFP. The move comes ahead of an international summit in Egypt, co-chaired by US President Donald Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, aimed at advancing the Trump peace plan for the region.
Under the first phase of the agreement, Hamas will release approximately 20 captives still believed to be alive in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners detained by Israel.
"According to the signed agreement, the prisoner exchange is set to begin Monday morning as agreed," Hamas official Osama Hamdan told AFP.
Gaza Peace Summit: International Participation
The Sharm el Sheikh summit, scheduled for Monday afternoon, will bring together leaders from over 20 nations. The Egyptian presidency emphasized that the gathering aims to end the war in Gaza, promote regional peace and stability, and usher in a new era of security in the Middle East.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Italy’s Giorgia Meloni and Spain’s Pedro Sánchez are expected to attend. Hamas, however, has opted out of the official signing ceremony, stating that it has acted primarily through Qatari and Egyptian mediators during the negotiations.
Returning Home Amid Devastation
By Saturday evening, more than 500,000 Palestinians had returned to Gaza City, according to the Hamas-run civil defense agency. Residents described widespread destruction: apartment blocks reduced to rubble, streets littered with debris, and the air heavy with the scent of death.
"I walked for hours, every step filled with fear and anxiety," said Raja Salmi, 52, as she returned to the Al-Rimal neighborhood. Her home was destroyed. Drone footage from AFP revealed entire city blocks leveled, leaving survivors to sift through rubble in search of belongings and family members.
The UN humanitarian office reports that, if the ceasefire holds, Israel has permitted the transport of 170,000 tonnes of aid into Gaza.
Hostage Exchange and Prisoner Release
Hamas has until Monday noon to hand over 47 remaining hostages—living and deceased—from the 251 abducted during the 2023 Hamas attack, which killed over 1,200 people, mostly civilians. Additionally, Israel will release 250 prisoners, including individuals serving life sentences for anti-Israel attacks, along with 1,700 Gazans detained since the conflict began.
US officials, including CENTCOM chief Admiral Brad Cooper, Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner, visited Gaza and Tel Aviv over the weekend to oversee preparations and meet families of hostages. Families expressed cautious optimism: "We finally feel hope, but we cannot and will not stop now," said Zairo Shachar Mohr Munder, whose uncle was abducted in the 2023 attack.
Casualties and Humanitarian Impact
The Hamas-run Health Ministry reports at least 67,682 fatalities in Gaza since the conflict escalated, with more than half being women and children. Streets remain perilous, with collapsed buildings, destroyed vehicles, and debris blocking access. Residents are returning to a city transformed into a “ghost town,” facing the immense challenge of rebuilding lives amid ongoing humanitarian needs.