Hamas to Release Surviving Hostages as Trump Visits Region to Celebrate Ceasefire and Peace Deal

Oct 2025 : Hamas was set to release all surviving hostages on Monday in a landmark exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, as US President Donald Trump embarked on a whirlwind visit to the region, declaring the war “over.” The unprecedented move follows a ceasefire and hostage release deal brokered by Trump, aimed at bringing relief to families and paving the way for a potential long-term peace framework in the region.

Under Trump’s proposed roadmap, once Hamas hands over the surviving hostages, Israel will begin releasing approximately 2,000 Palestinian detainees in exchange. Israel anticipates that all 20 living hostages will be delivered to the Red Cross “early Monday morning,” according to a spokesperson for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office.

Boarding Air Force One, Trump spoke to reporters about the visit, describing it as “very special” and brushing off concerns about the durability of the ceasefire. “I think it’s going to hold. I think people are tired of it. It’s been centuries,” he said, referring to the protracted conflict. “The war is over. Okay? You understand that?” he added, underscoring his optimism for the fragile peace.

In Israel, Trump is scheduled to meet the families of hostages seized by Hamas during its deadly cross-border attack on October 7, 2023, which triggered a two-year-long war that claimed 1,219 lives, most of them civilians. He is also expected to address the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem.

Trump’s visit represents both a diplomatic effort and a personal victory lap over the Gaza deal he helped negotiate. The 20-point peace plan, announced in late September, forms the backbone of his strategy to end hostilities and stabilize the region. “Everybody’s very excited about this moment in time,” Trump said as he prepared to depart from Joint Base Andrews near Washington.

Accompanying Trump on the trip are several top US officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and senior military officer Dan Caine.

Negotiations continued late Sunday over final arrangements for the hostage and prisoner exchanges. Two Hamas sources mentioned that the group was pressing Israel to include seven senior Palestinian leaders among those to be released, a request Israel has at least partially rejected. Nevertheless, Hamas and its allies reportedly “completed all preparations” to hand over the living hostages. Israel does not expect all the deceased hostages to be returned on Monday.

The full plan entails the release of 47 hostages, both living and deceased, abducted during Hamas’s October 2023 attack, as well as the remains of a soldier killed during a previous Gaza war in 2014. Among the Palestinian prisoners slated for release, approximately 250 are security detainees, many convicted of killing Israelis, while around 1,700 were detained by the Israeli army in Gaza during the conflict.

After visiting Israel, Trump is scheduled to travel to Egypt, where he and President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi will co-host a summit of more than 20 world leaders. The summit aims to back Trump’s broader plan for ending the Gaza war and promoting regional peace.

Trump faces a host of unresolved challenges, including Hamas’s refusal to disarm and Israel’s failure to commit to a full withdrawal from Gaza. Nonetheless, he insisted that he has “guarantees” from both sides and other regional players regarding the initial phase of the plan and its future stages. “I don’t think they’re going to want to disappoint me,” he said.

Trump also indicated that he would be “proud” to visit Gaza, though he did not specify when such a visit could occur due to significant security risks. A new governing body for Gaza, which Trump’s plan envisions him leading, is expected to be established swiftly. As Israel conducts a partial withdrawal, the territory would be overseen by a multinational force coordinated through a US-led command center in Israel.

The human cost of the conflict remains staggering. According to figures from the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza, at least 67,806 people have been killed during the campaign. While the data does not distinguish between civilians and combatants, it indicates that more than half of the deceased were women and children, highlighting the devastating impact of the prolonged conflict.

As the hostage releases proceed and Trump’s peace initiative unfolds, the world watches closely to see whether these measures can translate into a lasting resolution. The delicate balance between diplomacy, security, and humanitarian concerns makes the upcoming days critical for both Israel and Gaza, and for the broader Middle East peace process.