Hamas released all 20 remaining living hostages on Monday as part of a ceasefire, pausing two years of war that pummeled the Gaza Strip
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Deir Al-Balah (Gaza Strip) (AP/PTI) — Hamas released all 20 remaining living hostages on Monday as part of a ceasefire, pausing two years of war that pummeled the Gaza Strip, killing tens of thousands of Palestinians.
The releases came as President Donald Trump was in Israel to celebrate the US-brokered ceasefire and hostage deal between Israel and Hamas, an agreement that he declared had effectively ended the war and opened the door to building a durable peace in the Middle East.
Under the deal, Israel released over 1,900 Palestinian prisoners and is to allow a surge of food and aid supplies into famine-stricken Gaza.
Trump will discuss the US-proposed deal and postwar plans with other leaders in Egypt later Monday.
Also read: Hamas no longer holds any living hostage as remaining 13 make their way home — Israel
Donald Trump receives warm welcome in Israel as Hamas begins releasing hostages
Here's the latest:
154 Palestinian prisoners deported by Israel arrive in Egypt
An Egyptian official says 154 Palestinian prisoners who were released and deported by Israel arrived in Egypt at the Rafah crossing with Gaza.
The freed prisoners were to be sent to third countries as part of the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, said the official, who has direct knowledge of the deal's implementation. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he has not been authorised to brief the media.
The prisoners were among more than 1,900 Palestinians being freed by Israel in exchange for Hamas' release of its remaining hostages.
The president even waded into Israeli domestic politics, surprisingly urging the Israeli president to pardon Netanyahu on corruption charges.
“That was not in the speech, as you probably know,” Trump joked of his prepared remarks. He added to Netanyahu, “You are a very popular man. You know why? Because you know how to win.”
Netanyahu became the only sitting prime minister in Israeli history to be indicted when he was charged with fraud, breach of trust and accepting bribes in three separate cases after years-long investigations accusing him of exchanging favours with wealthy political supporters.
But Trump declared, “Whether we like it or not, this has been one of the greatest wartime presidents ... and cigars and champagne, who the hell cares about that.”
The Iraqi leader threatened to leave the summit if Netanyahu attended
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, who travelled to Egypt to participate in a summit of world leaders aimed at solidifying the end of the war in Gaza on Monday, informed Egyptian and US officials that he would withdraw from the summit if Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu participated, the state-run Iraqi News Agency reported.
Egypt's presidency initially said Netanyahu would attend the summit, but Netanyahu's office said Monday that he would not attend due to a Jewish holiday. The summit in Sharm el-Sheikh is co-chaired by President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi and US President Donald Trump and will include around two dozen world leaders.
Trump wraps up his speech to the Israeli parliament
The president concluded his rambling speech to the Knesset after a bit more than an hour.
His address was so lengthy that even after Trump said, “In closing”, he continued for several more minutes.
Trump is still planning to head to Egypt for a summit later Tuesday featuring the leaders of many countries – though his trip is now hours behind schedule.
Trump says Palestinians should concentrate on building their people up.
Trump's speech to Israel's parliament was preceded by lengthy speeches from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the Knesset speaker and the opposition leader.
Trump was mid-speech more than an hour after he was due to arrive in the Egyptian seaside resort of Sharm el-Sheikh to discuss peace in the Middle East with other world leaders.
“I'll be going there. I'll be quite late,” Trump joked. “They might not be there by the time I get there, but we'll give it a shot.”
Palestinians rejoice at the release of prisoners from Israel
Palestinians in the occupied West Bank rejoiced as prisoners released in an exchange with Israel left Ofer Prison and arrived in Beitunia.
Waving flags and wearing keffiyehs, hundreds gathered outside the Ramallah Palace of Culture to greet them. Reports by human rights groups detailing conditions in Israeli detention have made Palestinian prisoners enduring symbols of their people's struggle.
“It was an indescribable journey of suffering — hunger, unfair treatment, oppression, torture and curses — more than anything you could imagine,” said Kamal Abu Shanab, a 51-year-old Fatah member from Tulkarem.
His face gaunt and his head shaved, Abu Shanab's family said they barely recognised him. He said he lost 139 pounds (59 kilograms) during 18 1/2 years in prison. Most prisoners were serving long sentences for their involvement in deadly attacks against Israelis.