There have been celebrations across Israel and the Palestinian territories as a major hostage and prisoner exchange on Monday marked a significant step towards ending two years of war in Gaza. In a crucial first phase of the US-brokered plan to end the war, Hamas returned all living Israeli hostages, while Israel freed almost 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees. There were emotional scenes as families of the Israeli hostages screamed and cried with happiness as they embraced their freed loved ones. And for the Palestinians who were freed from Israeli jails, huge crowds waving flags and playing patriotic music greeted them as they arrived on buses in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. US President Donald Trump landed in Israel minutes after the first hostages were reunited with their families, and in a speech to Israel's parliament, the Knesset, declared… (Updated 14 Oct 2025, 02:41 IST; source: link)
Key Points
- There have been celebrations across Israel and the Palestinian territories as a major hostage and prisoner exchange on Monday marked a significant step towards ending two years of war in Gaza
- In a crucial first phase of the US-brokered plan to end the war , Hamas returned all living Israeli hostages, while Israel freed almost 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees
- There were emotional scenes as families of the Israeli hostages screamed and cried with happiness as they embraced their freed loved ones