A significant development occurred in the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict as 20 Israeli hostages were released in a coordinated operation known as Operation Returning Home. This release was part of the initial phase of a peace plan spearheaded by President Donald Trump, which also involved Israel releasing 250 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences and approximately 1,700 Gazans detained since the outbreak of hostilities on October 7, 2023.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that the hostages were transferred to Israeli authorities at a designated meeting point along the northern border of Gaza. The initial group of seven hostages was handed over in the morning, followed by the remaining thirteen later that day. Among those released was Omri Miran, who spent 738 days in captivity, and he was reunited with his family shortly after his release. The IDF reported that some hostages required medical attention and were subsequently airlifted to a nearby hospital.
In parallel, the International Committee of the Red Cross facilitated the return of nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, with buses arriving in both Gaza and the West Bank, leading to emotional reunions with family members. However, the release of only four deceased hostages out of 28 held by Hamas raised concerns among families of the missing, who expressed disappointment and called for further action to ensure compliance with the agreement.
The announced releases coincided with a speech by President Trump at the Knesset, where he acknowledged the returning hostages and emphasized the end of the war with Hamas.