Overview

• Hamas transferred 20 living Israeli hostages to the International Committee of the Red Cross for handover to Israel, with authorities noting that recovery of all remains covered by the deal may take more time.
• Israel began releasing 250 Palestinians serving life sentences along with roughly 1,700 detainees from Gaza as part of the first‑phase exchange built into the ceasefire plan.
• President Trump arrived in Israel en route to co‑chair the Sharm El‑Sheikh gathering of more than 20 countries and the UN, saying the war has ended and the ceasefire will hold, as diplomatic sources said mediators plan to sign a guarantor document.
• After Egypt announced he would attend, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said he will not go to the summit, even as he praised the return of hostages and addressed the Knesset alongside Trump.
• Key disputes persist for the next phase as Hamas rejects joining a transitional authority and disarming, with Reuters footage showing its fighters deployed during the handover; the UK pledged £20 million for water, sanitation and hygiene in Gaza and will convene a reconstruction forum.