Trump before the Israeli parliament: 'Now I can say it, the hostages are back'
The returns began as President Trump traveled to the region, where he was welcomed with a standing ovation in the the Knesset before meeting with negotiators in Egypt to finalize the deal aimed at ending the Gaza War.
Donald Trump at the Knesset
The agreed return of Israeli hostages captured by Hamas began early Monday. As part of the first phase of a peace plan promoted by U.S. President Donald Trump, the group pledged to release the 20 live hostages still held since Oct. 7, along with 28 deceased individuals. In exchange, Israel committed to freeing 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.
The returns began as President Trump traveled to the region, where he was scheduled to address the Knesset (Israeli parliament) and meet with negotiators in Egypt to finalize the deal aimed at ending the Gaza War.
Here is how we have reported on the event at VOZ, minute by minute.
All times are listed in Eastern Standard Time (EST).
Trump heads to Egypt for Gaza summit
Trump concludes his speech before the Knesset: 'I love Israel, I'm with you all the way'
Trump : Israel "will live and thrive forever"
"The story of fierce Israeli resolve and triumph since Oct. 7 should be prove to the entire world that those who seek to destroy this nation are doomed to bitter failure," Trump said.
"The state of Israel is strong and it will live and thrive forever."
Netanyahu will not attend the Gaza summit in Egypt
The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu assured that he will not attend the summit on Gaza in the Egyptian city of Sharm el-Sheikh.
Although he welcomed Trump's invitation to the meeting, the office maintained that Netanyahu will not be able to participate because it coincides with the Simchat Torah holiday, which begins Monday night and continues until sunset on Tuesday, according to AFP.
Trump and Al Sisi will address that summit on Monday in Sharm el-Sheikh, along with some 20 leaders, including Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.
"Now I can say it, the hostages are back," says Trump
As confirmation came that the 20 hostages still alive were free and in Israel, President Trump celebrated the news: "Now I can say it, the hostages are back."
"For so many families across this land, it has been years since you have known a single day of true peace. But now, at last—not only for Israelis but also for Palestinians and for many others—the long and painful nightmare is finally over."
Trump predicts a Golden Age for Israel and the Middle East
"Generations from now, this will be remembered as the moment that everything began to change," said President Trump in his speech to the Israeli parliament.
"Like the USA right now, it will be the GOLDEN AGE of Israel and the Golden Age of the Middle East."
The president also praised the countries in the region for their efforts to pressure Hamas to accept the agreement. He described this collaboration as "unusual" and "incredible."
Trump: "The sun rises on a Holy Land that is finally at peace"
"After so many years of unceasing war and endless danger, today the skies are calm, the guns are silent… the sun rises on a Holy Land that is finally at peace," President Trump told the Israeli parliament, becoming the fourth president to address the chamber.
"A land and a region that, God willing, will be at peace for all eternity."
Netanyahu on Trump: "I've never seen anyone move the world so quiclky"
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted that Trump was “the greatest friend that the state of Israel has ever had in the White House.”
“Mr. President, you are committed to this peace, I am committed to this peace, and together we will achieve this peace,” Netanyahu said, also praising Israel’s military efforts and asserting that they had shown the country’s enemies they could not destroy it: “Peace through strength.”
“I’ve never seen anyone move the world so quickly as our friend Donald J. Trump,” he added, crediting the truce to Trump’s “world leadership” and Israeli military pressure.
“The coming years will hopefully be a time for peace. Peace inside Israel and peace outside Israel,” he concluded.
Israel to nominate Trump for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize
Israeli Parliament Speaker Amir Ohana pledged to nominate Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize next year.
Recalling that Trump helped end eight conflicts, Ohana said, “Next year, there is no one more deserving than you.”
This year, the award went to Venezuelan opposition candidate Maria Corina Machado.
Warm welcome for Trump in the Knesset: Israel's "best friend"
Trump was greeted with a standing ovation from the Knesset. Several minutes of applause followed for him and his hosts—Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, among others—as they were introduced.
Amir Ohana, speaker of the Israeli parliament, called Trump Israel’s “best friend” in the White House, highlighting his role in moving the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem, brokering the Abraham Accords, and pressuring Iran to reduce the nuclear threat.
What does Trump's peace plan say?
The release of 20 live hostages held by Hamas, along with the return of 28 deceased individuals in exchange for approximately 2,000 prisoners held by Israel, is part of the first phase of the peace plan promoted by Trump.
This initial stage also includes a cessation of hostilities and the withdrawal of Israeli forces in Gaza to an agreed-upon line.
At VOZ, we present the 20 points of the president’s roadmap to end the war in full. Some major and minor details for implementing the truce are still under negotiation:
Egypt: Netanyahu to attend the Gaza summit
The Egyptian Presidency assured that the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, will attend this Monday the summit on Gaza organized in the Egyptian city of Sharm el Sheikh.
The Egyptian Presidency confirmed that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will attend a Gaza summit on Monday in the Egyptian city of Sharm el-Sheikh.
The last 20 living hostages are back in Israel
HAMAS RELEASES FINAL SURVIVING ISRAELI HOSTAGES
Israel confirmed this through statements from its armed forces.
"Dad Omri is home"
The family of Omri Miran, one of the hostages, released a statement on the Bring Them Home Now family forum:
"Dad Omri is home. After more than 700 long, painful, and agonizing days, Omri will finally receive from Roni and Alma a healing embrace. We want to thank the people of Israel from the bottom of our hearts for standing by us in the darkest hours and on days when this moment seemed like a distant and impossible wish. This moment, today, is not a personal victory but a victory of an entire people.
We also want to express our deep gratitude to the security forces and the heroic IDF soldiers. We are at the beginning of a complex and challenging, yet moving, journey of recovery. We remain committed to the struggle—until the last hostage returns, and until the complete recovery of our beloved country.
May Omri's return mark the beginning of this recovery and the unity of our people."
13 HOSTAGES ON THEIR WAY HOME
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that they are escorting 13 hostages back to Israel, where the individuals will first undergo medical check-ups.
Trump meets in the Israeli Parliament
Accompanied by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and parliamentary speaker Amir Ohana, Donald Trump addressed the Knesset, where he had been invited to speak.
“This is my great honor. A great and beautiful day, a new beginning,” he wrote in the Knesset guest book, according to the Times of Israel.
FIRST IMAGES OF THE RELEASED HOSTAGES
The first images of the released hostages began to surface, some from the IDF and others showing families reunited with their loved ones.
Israeli TV: Hamas claimed to have released all 20 living hostages
Hamas has released the last 20 Israeli hostages still alive, Israeli television reported Monday, citing a senior Israeli official, according to AFP.
Earlier Monday, Israeli authorities announced the return of the first group of seven hostages. The remaining 13 had already been handed over to the Red Cross and were expected to soon be with the Israeli army, Israeli television reported.
The 20 freed hostages had been captured during Hamas’ surprise attack in southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which triggered the Gaza War.
Israeli hostages who have not yet been released made video calls from Gaza to their families on Monday, according to the main association of hostage relatives and Hamas sources.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum shared videos and photos showing relatives of Matan Zangauker, Nimrod Cohen, and Ariel and David Cunio—hostages whom Israeli officials say are still being held—making the calls.
"Welcome Home': IDF confirms Hamas released first seven hostages
The Israel Defense Forces confirmed that Hamas had released the first seven live hostages. After being handed over to the Red Cross, “Matan, Gali, Ziv, Alon, Eitan, Omri, and Guy are returning home,” accompanied by members of the Israeli army.
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