Hamas to Begin Hostage Release Before Trump’s Egypt Peace Summit
Key Takeaways:
- Hamas will release Israeli hostages starting Monday morning
- Trump and al-Sisi to chair major peace summit in Egypt
- Exchange involves 20 living hostages for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners
- Over 500,000 Palestinians return to devastated Gaza homes
Hamas will begin releasing Israeli hostages from Gaza on Monday morning, just hours before US President Donald Trump chairs a major international peace summit in Egypt. The Palestinian militant group confirmed the prisoner exchange will proceed as part of the initial phase of Trump’s regional peace plan.
Hamas official Osama Hamdan told AFP: “According to the signed agreement, the prisoner exchange is set to begin on Monday morning as agreed.” The group will free approximately 20 living hostages in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.
International Peace Summit
Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi will chair a summit of more than 20 countries in Sharm el-Sheikh on Monday afternoon. The meeting aims “to end the war in the Gaza Strip, enhance efforts to achieve peace and stability in the Middle East, and usher in a new era of regional security and stability.”
Confirmed attendees include UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, and French President Emmanuel Macron. Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s attendance remains unconfirmed, while Hamas stated it will not participate directly.
Challenges Ahead
Despite the breakthrough, significant hurdles remain for long-term peace. Mediators face the complex task of securing a political solution that would require Hamas to disarm and relinquish governance of Gaza.
Hamas political bureau member Hossam Badran noted the second phase of Trump’s plan “contains many complexities and difficulties,” while an anonymous Hamas official stated disarmament was “out of the question.”
Multinational Force Plan
Under the proposed agreement, a multinational force from Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates would replace Israeli troops during their phased withdrawal from Gaza cities. The force would be coordinated by a US-led command center in Israel.
On Saturday, US officials including CENTCOM chief Admiral Brad Cooper, Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner visited Gaza as hundreds of thousands of Palestinians returned to their devastated homes.
Hostage Families Express Hope
Einav Zangauker, whose son Matan is among the hostages, said: “We will continue to shout and fight until everyone is home.”
“We finally feel hope, but we cannot and will not stop now,” added Zairo Shachar Mohr Munder, whose uncle Abraham was abducted during the Hamas attack.
Hamas must hand over 47 remaining hostages—both living and deceased—from the 251 abducted two years ago. The attack resulted in 1,219 deaths, mostly civilians.
Return to Destruction
More than 500,000 Palestinians returned to Gaza City over the weekend, facing widespread devastation. Drone footage revealed entire city blocks reduced to rubble, with five-story apartment buildings stripped to their concrete frames.
“We walked for hours, and every step was filled with fear and anxiety for my home,” said Raja Salmi, 52, who found her house completely destroyed.
“It felt like a ghost town, not Gaza,” described Sami Musa, 28. “The smell of death still lingers in the air.”
The UN humanitarian office confirmed Israel has permitted agencies to transport 170,000 tonnes of aid into Gaza if the ceasefire holds.
According to Gaza health authorities, Israel’s military campaign has killed at least 67,682 people, with more than half being women and children.
