Israeli hostages to be released on Monday: Trump

US President Donald Trump has said that the surviving Israelis held hostage by Hamas in Gaza will be released next Monday (October 13) as per the ceasefire agreement.

He said, ‘The hostages will return home on Monday. They are in a terrible place. Very few people know where they are. The prisoners will be returned. 28 bodies will also be sent.’

He also said, ‘I will go to Israel. I will speak in the Knesset. I will also go to Egypt. The agreement will be signed there. Many other leaders from all over the world will come. They have been invited.’

Incidentally, Israel has been carrying out a brutal attack on Gaza since October 7, 2023. During this, there was a ceasefire for just over two months. During the rest of the time, the occupying forces have killed more than 67,000 Palestinians indiscriminately in the valley. About 170,000 people have been injured.

Meanwhile, thousands of displaced Palestinians have begun returning to their homes destroyed by the attacks after a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took effect on Friday. As troops began withdrawing from some areas of Gaza on Friday, Gazans began walking in groups on dusty roads back towards Gaza City.

The Israeli military said the ceasefire officially took effect at noon local time on Friday (3 pm Bangladesh time on Friday). Israeli troops are now said to be taking up positions in various locations according to its outline.

Under the agreement, Israeli hostages held in Gaza will be released within 72 hours of the ceasefire taking effect; in exchange, hundreds of Palestinians held in Israel will be released.