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Israel confirmed Monday that all 20 living Israeli hostages held by Hamas have been released and transferred to Israeli military custody, marking the first major breakthrough in a ceasefire agreement that has held for several days. The hostages, who spent nearly two years in captivity, were released in two groups through Red Cross mediation in Gaza — seven initially, including Eitan Mor and brothers Gali and Ziv Berman, followed by 13 others identified in Israeli media as Elkana Bohbot, Avinatan Or, Yosef-Haim Ohana, Evyatar David, Rom Braslavski, Segev Kalfon, Nimrod Cohen, Maxim Herkin, Eitan Horn, Matan Zangauker, Bar Kupershtein, David Cunio and Ariel Cunio.
U.S. President Donald Trump, who arrived in Israel to address the Knesset and meet hostage families, declared aboard Air Force One that “the war is over” and claimed Hamas would comply with disarmament plans, though the militant group has not publicly confirmed any such commitment. Israeli President Isaac Herzog announced he would present Trump with Israel’s highest civilian honor for his role in the release, while Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong called it “a singular achievement by President Trump.” The ceasefire deal includes the release of 1,966 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli custody. Trump is scheduled to travel to Egypt for an international peace summit in Sharm el-Sheikh with leaders from more than 20 nations, though only the first phase of his 20-point peace plan has been implemented.
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