Trump arrives in Israel as Hamas begins hostage release

Donald Trump has landed in Israel just as Hamas starts releasing Israeli hostages under a U.S. mediated ceasefire aimed at ending the Gaza conflict.

U.S. President Donald Trump salutes as he steps off Air Force One upon arriving at La Guardia Airport in New York for the U.S. Open men’s final, U.S., September 7, 2025. 

Amid scenes of relief and celebration, U.S. President Donald Trump arrived in Tel Aviv on Monday, coinciding with the first stage of hostage releases by Hamas. 

The move, part of a U.S.-brokered truce, is being hailed as a crucial step toward concluding more than two years of devastating warfare in Gaza.

Shortly after Trump’s arrival, Israel’s military confirmed that seven of the final 20 Israeli hostages had been safely transferred through the Red Cross. 

The rest along with the remains of several victims are expected later in the day. In return, Israel is releasing close to 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees.

Crowds gathered at Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square, waving Israeli flags and embracing one another as the long-anticipated returns began.

“I am so excited. I am full of happiness. It’s hard to imagine how I feel this moment,” said Viki Cohen, mother of freed hostage Nimrod Cohen, while traveling to the Reim military base to reunite with her son.

The truce agreement, finalized last week in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, was signed by Israeli and Palestinian representatives under the mediation of the United States, Egypt, and Qatar. 

During his visit, Trump will address the Knesset Israel’s parliament before heading back to Sharm el-Sheikh for a summit with more than 20 global leaders focused on regional security and post-war rebuilding.

At Ben Gurion Airport, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed Trump. The American president, now the fourth U.S. leader to address the Knesset after Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush, expressed optimism for “a durable peace founded on dignity, security, and mutual respect.”

In Gaza, Hamas militants were seen escorting detainees to Nasser Hospital, where anxious families waited.

“I hope these images mark the end of this war,” said Emad Abu Joudat, 57, from Gaza City. “We lost friends, relatives, our houses, and our city. Now, maybe we can start again.”

Hamas’s military wing reiterated its adherence to the agreement but stressed that Israel must fully comply with the terms. 

The group claimed Israel only consented to the ceasefire and prisoner exchange after its military campaign failed to rescue the captives.

The conflict, triggered by Hamas’s October 7, 2023, assault that killed about 1,200 Israelis and led to 251 kidnappings, has left Gaza in devastation. According to local health authorities, more than 67,000 Palestinians have died, and much of the enclave lies in ruins.

The UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) called on Israel to expand