Hamas is set to release the 20 Israeli hostages it is still holding in Gaza in exchange for the release of about 2,000 Palestinian prisoners from Israeli prisons on Monday as part of US President Donald Trump’s efforts to end the devastating two-year war in the Strip.
If completed as planned, the exchange, which will also include the return of the bodies of 28 dead hostages, would mark a major — but not decisive — step toward ending the bloodiest chapter in the history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The exchange is the first phase of a plan Trump rolled out this month after months of failed attempts to end the fighting.
The conflict was sparked by a Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, and has since led to the deaths of approximately 68,000 Palestinians and approximately 2,000 Israelis.
But Israel and Hamas have not yet agreed on the second phase of Trump’s plan, which aims to achieve a permanent end to the fighting.
The resolution calls for the disarmament of Hamas, the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, and the deployment of an international force to stabilize the Strip.
As part of his efforts to ensure a permanent ceasefire, Trump will make a short visit to the Middle East on Monday, where he will hold meetings with officials and families of hostages in Israel.
He will then participate in a short “peace summit” in Egypt, which is expected to be attended by officials from about 20 countries, including the United Kingdom, France, Turkey and Spain, as well as officials from the European Union and the United Nations.
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