"Twenty living hostages were returned to Israel on Monday, marking the first stage of a landmark ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas. The deal is part of a broader plan mediated by US President Donald Trump's administration to halt the two-year conflict. Trump also flew to the Middle East and addressed the Knesset in Israel to mark the beginning of the peace accord."
"The Israeli military said the freed captives, all men, were reunited with their families and taken to hospitals for medical checks. Israel released images of the hostages returning home, including a photo of 28-year-old twins Gali and Ziv Berman embracing as they were reunited after months in captivity in the Gaza Strip. Hostages freed earlier said the twins had been held separately. The photos of the first seven hostages released Monday show them appearing pale but less gaunt than those freed in January."
"Under the agreement, Israel began freeing some of the more than 1,900 Palestinians held in Israeli jails. Freed Palestinians include 1,700 people seized from Gaza and held without chargeImage: Mahmoud Issa/REUTERS TV broadcasts showed tearful scenes as families met their relatives at Israeli hospitals. In Tel Aviv and other cities, large crowds gathered in public squares to watch the handovers live, breaking into cheers as TV anchors confirmed the hostages' release."
"Uncertainty still surrounds the fate of the deceased hostages still held in Gaza. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum said Hamas was expected to return only four of the 28 confirmed-dead captives. Israeli officials have not confirmed the figure, and the military said it did not expect all bodies to be returned on Monday, despite the ceasefire's stipulating repatriation within 72 hours of the fighting's end."
Twenty living hostages were returned to Israel as part of a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas mediated by the US administration. The freed captives, all men, were reunited with families and taken to hospitals for medical checks. Images showed returning hostages, including twins Gali and Ziv Berman embracing after months in Gaza captivity. Hamas initially released seven hostages, then 13 more. Under the agreement, Israel began releasing some of over 1,900 Palestinians held in Israeli jails, including about 1,700 seized from Gaza and held without charge. Questions remain about the fate and repatriation of deceased captives.
Read at www.dw.com
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