Donald Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni celebrated on Monday (13) the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, following the release of the last 20 Israeli hostages held in Gaza since the 2023 attacks.
The release ends 738 days of captivity and marks the first stage of the peace plan proposed by the United States. The exchange involved the release of 1.966 Palestinian prisoners by Israel, including 250 sentenced to life imprisonment.
The hostages were released in two phases, handed over to the Red Cross in the northern and southern Gaza Strip. They were able to walk independently, despite their poor health. All were taken to hospitals by Israel Defense Forces (IDF) teams.
In Tel Aviv, crowds gathered in Hostage Square to celebrate. The resumption of family gatherings has thrilled the country after nearly two years of tension and violence.
Public transport
Local transport operates on reduced timetables during public holidays. In urban areas, daytime services generally follow close to normal timetables, but with fewer options in the evening.
Donald Trump arrived in Israel during the operation. In a speech to Parliament, he declared: "Today the sky is calm, the guns are silent, and the sun rises on a Holy Land finally at peace."
Trump stated that Israel has won militarily, but that it is time to reap the rewards diplomatically. "Now is the time to turn these victories against terrorists into the ultimate prize: peace and prosperity for the entire Middle East," he said.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called the day "historic" and reinforced Italy's support for lasting peace. "Diplomacy has won. Italy is proud to have contributed with dialogue and firmness in defense of Western values," she declared.
Israel and Hamas still disagree on the group's disarmament and the future administration of the Gaza Strip. These points are expected to be discussed in the next phases of the agreement, the official signing of which will take place in Egypt, with mediators from Qatar and the UN in attendance.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu canceled his trip to the ceremony in Egypt to attend the celebrations at home. Hamas is also expected to hand over the bodies of 28 hostages killed during their captivity.
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