Hamas on Monday released seven hostages into the custody of the International Committee of the Red Cross — the first group freed under a breakthrough ceasefire agreement that brought an end to two years of devastating war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

As part of the deal, Palestinians awaited the release of hundreds of prisoners held in Israeli jails, in what is being seen as a significant confidence-building measure following the U.S.-brokered truce.

U.S. President Donald Trump, along with several other world leaders, arrived in the region to discuss the American-proposed peace framework and postwar reconstruction plans for Gaza.

The ceasefire has also opened the way for a large-scale influx of humanitarian aid into the famine-stricken territory, where hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced by the conflict.

Despite the latest developments, major uncertainties remain about the future governance of Gaza and the fate of Hamas. Still, Monday’s exchange of hostages and prisoners marked a key step toward ending the deadliest confrontation in the history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Source: AP