Hamas released 20 of the surviving hostages it had been holding in the Gaza Strip, with the release of 1,700 Palestinian prisoners by Israel under way, including many serving life sentences. The bodies of deceased hostages will also be repatriated to Israel for identification.

The exchange took place just ahead of President Trump’s visit to Israel on Monday. This large-scale swap paves the way for renewed dialogue, reconstruction efforts, and the possible reshaping of the security and political landscape in Gaza and the wider region.