Hostages finally free: Is there hope for peace in the Gaza Strip?

Hostages finally free: Is there hope for peace in the Gaza Strip?

A historic hostage release in the Gaza Strip is scheduled to begin on October 13, 2025. Loud crown The handover of the hostages held in the Gaza Strip will begin on Monday at 8:00 a.m. local time (7:00 a.m. CET). This first phase of hostage release begins in the Netzarim corridor and continues at 10:00 a.m. local time in Khan Younis. US President Donald Trump, who is on his way to Israel, declared: “The war is over” and looks forward to the imminent return of the hostages.

A total of 20 hostages who were kidnapped after the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023 are to be returned. Benjamin Netanyahu, the head of Israel's government, reports that of these hostages, 20 are still alive, while 27 are already dead. At the same time, almost 2,000 imprisoned Palestinians are to be released from Israeli prisons in return.

Planned handover and international reactions

Preparations for the exchange between Israel and Hamas are in full swing. At 6:18 a.m., Hamas released the names of the 20 hostages set to be released, and Trump confirmed in the early hours of the morning that the ceasefire was in effect and that he expected the hostages to return. Loud World The return of the hostages is organized by the International Committee of the Red Cross, without a public ceremony or media representatives.

The Israeli army is preparing to identify the bodies of fallen hostages and expects not all of the dead Hamas hostages will be handed over to Israel on Monday. An international panel will also be set up to find the remains of the unreturned hostages in the Gaza Strip. In another measure, Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil plans to emphasize Trump's role in the ceasefire.

Future prospects and peace negotiations

Trump also announced that he would meet the hostages' relatives on Monday, followed by a speech in the Israeli parliament, the Knesset. It is part of his comprehensive strategy aimed at ending the conflict peacefully. A first agreement between Israel and Hamas on the peace plan initiated by Trump is expected to be signed at the Middle East summit in Egypt. In this context, several Arab and European heads of state and government are also invited, such as Daily Mirror reported.

In addition to the hostage releases, the peace plan calls for a gradual reduction in military pressure by Israeli troops and the disarmament of Hamas. However, this measure is rejected by the organization. Despite this, an expansion of aid deliveries to Gaza is planned, with around 600 trucks of humanitarian aid per day in the first phase.

The developments in the coming days could be crucial for stability in the region. A stabilization mission by international troops could follow a possible withdrawal of Israeli soldiers. In any case, today marks a turning point in the Middle East conflict and could lay the foundation for long-term peace.