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As part of the first phase of Trump’s peace plan, Israel will release 250 Palestinian prisoners along with more than 1,700 others held during the two-year military operations in Gaza. This move is in exchange for the last 20 living Israeli hostages captured by Hamas, while the bodies of 28 deceased hostages are also set to be returned.
The release, confirmed today by Israeli officials, brings renewed hope amid continuing negotiations for the freedom of more captives.
Under the US president's proposed roadmap, once the Palestinian militants have handed over the surviving hostages, Israel will begin releasing around 2,000 detainees in exchange.
In a statement on October 9, 2025, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi praised the accord as a breakthrough that should pave the way for a lasting peace in the region.
Under the deal, once all hostages are returned, Israel will release 250 Palestinians serving life sentences and 1,700 Gazans who were detained during the fighting in Gaza.
However, the Palestinian group said other parts of the proposal would require further discussions among its leadership and other Palestinian factions.
The plan also demands the removal of Hamas, designated as a terrorist organization by the German government, the EU, the US and some Arab states, from power and a commitment from it to disarm.
This high-level discussion marked Netanyahu’s first engagement with a senior Arab leader since Israel's military strike against Hamas leaders in Qatar on September 9, highlighting the diplomatic significance of the encounter.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dismissed international appeals for a two-state solution, maintaining that Israel is waging a campaign against Hamas fighters. Yet the overwhelming majority of those killed have been civilians, including women and children.
The so-called “day of stoppage” saw roads blocked, businesses closed and protesters gather outside politicians’ homes
The move comes ahead of a possible new offensive aimed at taking control of northern Gaza City, the largest urban center in the territory
The strike, carried out in the city of Qom early Saturday, reportedly eliminated Saeed Izadi—a key figure in Iran’s Quds Force.