Hamas handed over all 20 surviving hostages to Israel on Monday, a major step towards ending two years of devastating war in Gaza as U.S. President Donald Trump, who helped broker the truce, proclaimed it was "a great day."
The Israeli military said it had received the remaining 13 hostages after a first batch of seven arrived earlier Monday, announcements that prompted cheering, hugging and weeping among thousands waiting at "Hostage Square" in Tel Aviv.
"This is a great day. This is a new beginning," Trump said after arriving to a hero's welcome in Israel where he was addressing the Knesset, Israel's parliament, before flying on to Egypt for a summit aimed at building conditions for a lasting peace in Gaza.
Asked if the two-year Gaza war was over, he said: "Yes."
"I am so excited. I am full of happiness. It's hard to imagine how I feel this moment. I didn't sleep all night," said Viki Cohen, mother of hostage Nimrod Cohen, as she traveled to Reim, an Israeli military camp where the hostages were being transferred.
Bodies of some of the 28 dead hostages, and another two whose fate is unknown, were also to be released Monday, along with nearly 2,000 Palestinian detainees and convicted prisoners held in Israel.
Continue Reading on The Japan Times
This preview shows approximately 15% of the article. Read the full story on the publisher's website to support quality journalism.