Relatives and friends of hostage Guy Gilboa-Dalal embrace as they learn of his release on October 13, 2025, in Ra’anana, Israel. The ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas ended the two-year war that followed the attacks on October 7, 2023. A condition of the agreement was the immediate return of hostages held in Gaza. (Photo: Dima Vazinovich/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON – After just over two years of Hamas captivity, surviving Israeli hostages were freed 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 praised “the golden age of Israel and the golden age of the Middle East.”
“Israel, with our help, won everything it could through force of arms. You won. I mean, you won. Now it’s time to translate those victories over terrorists on the battlefield into the ultimate reward of peace and prosperity for the entire Middle East. It’s time for you to enjoy the fruits of your labor,” Trump said during remarks that lasted just over an hour.
The Israeli Defense Forces, with financial and arms support from the United States, have been bombarding the Gaza Strip since Hamas militants launched a surprise attack on Israel from Palestinian territory on October 7, 2023, killing approximately 1,200 people and capturing 250 people.
Health officials in the Gaza Strip said Monday that the death toll in the petite enclave has risen to 67,869 since the conflict began, including about 60 in the last 24 hours. According to to the state media of the Palestinian Authority.
Hamas returned the remaining 20 living Israeli hostages on Monday and pledged to return the bodies of the dead hostages as part of a ceasefire agreement. In return, Israel released approximately 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.
As of Monday, Hamas still had to return the remains of two dozen hostages killed in captivity. The militant group that holds political power in Gaza returned the remains of four hostages to the National Institute of Forensic Medicine in Tel Aviv, CNN reported on Monday.
Trump calls for clemency for Netanyahu
According to journalists who traveled with Trump to Israel, many of those attending Trump’s Knesset speeches wore red MAGA-style hats with the words “Trump for a Peaceful President.”
Trump said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will be remembered “much more” for the peace deal than for the fighting.
Trump specifically asked Israeli President Isaac Herzog to pardon Netanyahu, who is under investigation for bribery and fraud.
“Hey, I have an idea. Mr. President, maybe you could pardon him?” Trump said, adding: “Cigars and some champagne – who the hell cares?”
Meeting in Egypt
Trump then traveled to Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, on Monday evening, where about 30 world leaders gathered for a tiny summit to announce an agreement between Israel and Hamas – with many details yet to be finalized.
Among those present was Mahmoud Abbas, president of the Palestinian Authority. Video published by The New York Times showed Trump and Abbas talking and shaking hands. Trump held Abbas’ hand and gave a thumbs-up with his other hand, asking for a photo of the pair.
According to an anonymous source, Trump invited Netanyahu, but the prime minister declined “due to time constraints” before the upcoming holidays. announcement sent by his office.
Trump, along with the leaders of Egypt, Qatar and Turkey, signed what the president called “a document that will set out many rules and regulations.”
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for the document’s text.
Speaking to reporters while signing a “historical document” in front of two rows of presidents and prime ministers, Trump was amazed at how long it took to bring about a cessation of hostilities and predicted that “this too will continue.”
20 point room plan it required the release of all living and dead Israeli hostages, the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces, and reform of the Palestinian government, including the complete disarmament of Hamas of weapons and political power.
World leaders praised Trump at Monday’s summit. Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that the US president is a “man of peace” and that he supports Trump in his bid for the Nobel Peace Prize. video and journalists’ reports from the summit. President of Egypt Abdel Fattah El-Sisi featured Trump the Nile Collar, his country’s highest state decoration.
US leaders respond
Both US Republican and Democratic 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 Israeli hostages (sic) in the hands of Hamas. In just eight and a half months in office, President Trump and his administration secured the safe release and return of all 20 living Israeli hostages from Hamas captivity, making lasting peace in the Middle East within reach,” the Louisiana Republican said in a statement on Monday statement.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer delivered scathing criticism reprimand last year, they celebrated the ceasefire agreement on the Senate floor in front of Netanyahu’s leadership on Monday.
“Today is a wonderful day. Finally, finally, finally, the last living hostages brutally held by Hamas are home, bringing a huge and overwhelming sigh of relief. I applaud the overwhelming support of the hostages’ tireless families, President Trump, his administration and everyone who helped make this moment a reality,” Schumer, a New York Democrat, said in a statement.
“Today we celebrate the return of the hostages – joyful images of them being reunited with their families – and solemnly reaffirm our commitment to bring home all the deceased hostages, including my constituents Omer Neutra and Itay Chen.”
Independent senator Bernie Sanders, an outspoken critic of Israel’s bombing of the Gaza Strip, insisted on the immediate deployment of humanitarian aid to the territory, including providing “unfettered access” to the United Nations.
The Vermont senator, who is debating with Democrats, said in a statement that Americans must “confront their role in this incredibly dark chapter,” emphasizing that the U.S. government has poured billions of taxpayer dollars to support what he described as Netanyahu’s “barbaric campaign.”
“The vast majority of Americans understand that Israel had the right to defend itself against the terrible Hamas terrorist attack that killed 1,200 innocent people and took 250 hostages,” Sanders said. “But most Americans also understand that Israel had no right to go to war against the entire Palestinian people, killing or injuring nearly 237,000 Palestinians — more than 10 percent of Gaza’s population — most of them women, children and the elderly.”
