Relatives and friends of hostage Guy Gilboa-Dalal hug as they learn the news of his release Oct. 13, 2025, in Ra’anana, Israel. The ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas ended the two-year war following the October 7, 2023 attacks. A condition of the agreement was the immediate return of the hostages held in Gaza. (Photo by Dima Vazinovich/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON – After just over two years in Hamas captivity, the surviving Israeli hostages were released Monday as President Donald Trump visited Israel and Egypt to celebrate a U.S.-brokered peace deal ending the war in Gaza.
In a speech to Israel’s Knesset, the country’s parliamentary body, on Monday afternoon Jerusalem time, Trump hailed “the golden age of Israel and the golden age of the Middle East.”
“Israel, with our help, has won everything it could by force of arms. You won. I mean, you won. Now it’s time to translate those victories against terrorists on the battlefield into the ultimate prize of peace and prosperity for the entire Middle East. It’s time for you to enjoy the fruits of your labor,” Trump said during his speech, which lasted just over an hour.
Since Hamas militants launched a surprise attack on Israel from Palestinian territory on October 7, 2023, Israeli forces with financial and military support from the United States have bombed the Gaza Strip, killing about 1,200 people and capturing 250 people.
Health officials in the Gaza Strip said Monday the death toll in the diminutive enclave had risen to 67,869 since the conflict began, including about 60 in the past 24 hours. after to the Palestinian Authority’s state media.
Hamas returned the remaining 20 living Israeli hostages on Monday and committed to returning the bodies of deceased hostages as part of the ceasefire agreement. In return, Israel released around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.
As of Monday, Hamas had yet to return the remains of two dozen hostages killed while in captivity. The militant group, which holds political power in Gaza, handed over the remains of four hostages to the National Institute of Forensic Medicine in Tel Aviv. CNN reported on Monday.
Trump calls for Netanyahu’s pardon
Many who attended Trump’s Knesset address wore MAGA-style red hats that read “Trump, the Peace President,” according to journalists who traveled to Israel with Trump.
Trump said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will be remembered “much more” for the peace deal than for the fighting.
Trump particularly called on Israeli President Isaac Herzog to pardon Netanyahu, who is under investigation for bribery and fraud.
“Hey, I have an idea. Mr. President, why don’t you excuse him?” Trump said, adding: “Cigars and some champagne – who the hell cares?”
Egypt meeting
Trump then traveled to Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt on Monday evening, where around 30 world leaders met for a brief summit to mark the deal between Israel and Hamas – many details still need to be worked out.
Among those present was Mahmoud Abbas, President of the Palestinian Authority. video The image published by The New York Times shows Trump and Abbas talking and shaking hands. Trump held Abbas’ hand and gave a thumbs-up gesture with his other hand to take a photo of the couple.
Trump invited Netanyahu, but the prime minister declined “due to time constraints” ahead of an upcoming holiday, a statement said notice released by his office.
Trump, along with the leaders of Egypt, Qatar and Turkey, signed what the president called a “document that will lay out many rules and regulations.”
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for the text of the document.
Speaking to reporters as he signed the “historic document” in front of two rows of presidents and prime ministers, Trump marveled at how long it took for hostilities to cease and predicted that “it will stay that way.”
The 20-point peace plan required the release of all living and deceased Israeli hostages, a gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces, and reform of the Palestinian government, including the complete disarmament of Hamas of weapons and political power.
World leaders heaped praise on Trump at the summit on Monday. Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the US president was “a man of peace” and that he supported Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize video and reports from journalists at the summit. Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi awarded Trump receives the Nile Collar, his country’s highest state honor.
US leaders respond
Both Republican and Democratic US lawmakers praised the release of the surviving Israeli hostages.
House Speaker Mike Johnson praised President Trump’s “leadership, strength and fortitude.”
“For the first time in 738 days, there are no living Israelis hostages (sic) in the hands of Hamas. In just eight and a half months in office, President Trump and his administration have secured the safe release and return of all 20 living Israeli hostages from Hamas captivity, putting lasting peace in the Middle East within reach,” the Louisiana Republican said in a statement Monday Explanation.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer made scathing comments Blame Netanyahu’s leadership last year, who was present in the Senate, celebrated the ceasefire agreement on Monday.
“Today is a wonderful day. Finally, finally, finally, the last living hostages brutally held by Hamas are home, a great and overwhelming sigh of relief. I commend the tremendous efforts of the tireless hostage families, President Trump, his administration and everyone who helped make this moment happen,” Schumer, a New York Democrat, said in a statement.
“Today we celebrate the return of the hostages – the joyful images of their reunion with their families – and we solemnly reaffirm our commitment to bringing home all deceased hostages, including my constituents Omer Neutra and Itay Chen.”
Independent Senator Bernie Sanders, an outspoken critic of Israel’s bombing of Gaza, called for the immediate activation of humanitarian assistance to the area, including granting “unrestricted access” to the United Nations.
The Vermont senator, who caucuses with Democrats, said in a statement that Americans “must come to terms with our role in this extremely dark chapter” and stressed that the U.S. government has provided billions of taxpayer dollars to support what he called “Netanyahu’s barbaric campaign.”
“The vast majority of Americans understand that Israel has the right to defend itself against Hamas’ horrific terrorist attack that killed 1,200 innocent people and took 250 hostage,” Sanders said. “But most Americans also understand that Israel had no right to wage war against the entire Palestinian people and kill or wound nearly 237,000 Palestinians – more than 10 percent of Gaza’s population – most of them women, children and the elderly.”
