Israeli hostage release: all living captives now freed, says Hamas, as Trump due to address Knesset – latest updates

Second group of 13 hostages has been handed over to the Red Cross – public radio

A second group of 13 Israeli hostages have been released by Hamas to the Red Cross, according to Israeli public radio.

Hamas has confirmed that this means that all of the living Israeli hostages have now been released.

As a reminder, as per the terms of the ceasefire agreement, 20 living hostages were due to be handed over this morning, with the bodies of up to 28 also released.

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Updated at 10.23 CEST

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IDF receives second group of Israeli hostages and are to make their way to Israeli territory

In another update on X, the IDF has confirmed that it has received the 13 hostages in Gaza and are making their way to Israeli territory.

The IDF wrote:

13 hostages who were returned have now met IDF and Shin Bet forces in the Gaza Strip and they are making their way to Israeli territory 13 hostages who were returned are now being accompanied by IDF and Shin Bet forces on their way back home, where they will undergo an initial medical assessment.

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IDF confirms 13 Israeli hostages have been handed over to Red Cross

The Israeli military has confirmed the second group of living Israeli hostages have safely been transferred to the Red Cross (see post at 09.08 for more details).

In a post on X, the IDF wrote:

According to the information received from the Red Cross now, 13 hostages have been transferred to their hands, and they are on their way to the IDF and Shin Bet forces in the Gaza Strip area.

The 13 hostages have been named in Israeli media as Elkana Bohbot, Avinatan Or, Yosef-Haim Ohana, Evyatar David, Rom Braslavski, Segev Kalfon, Nimrod Cohen, Maxim Herkin, Eitan Horn, Matan Zangauker, Bar Kupershtein, David Cunio, and Ariel Cunio.

The second group of 13 hostages are: Bar Abraham Kupershtein, Evyatar David, Yosef-Chaim Ohana, Segev Kalfon – top row. Avinatan Or, Elkana Bohbot, Maxim Herkin, Nimrod Cohen – second row. Matan Zangauker, Eitan Horn, Rom Braslavski, Ariel Cunio and David Cunio – bottom row. Photograph: ReutersShare

Updated at 10.54 CEST

Trump says Hamas will disarm – report

Donald Trump has said Hamas will comply with a plan to disarm, as he arrived at Israel’s parliament to deliver his address to the Knesset, according to Reuters.

The US president has previously indicated the issue of Hamas surrendering its weapons would be addressed in the second phase of the peace plan.

Hamas has appeared to, at least publicly, reject the idea of disarmament.

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Updated at 10.41 CEST

Here is a live feed of the Israeli parliament. Donald Trump hasn’t begun to speak yet but is expected to address Israeli parliamentarians shortly:

Donald Trump arrives in Israel and is due to address the Knesset – watch liveShare

‘A great and beautiful day’: Trump signs book on arrival at Israeli parliament

Footage is circulating of Donald Trump at the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, before his historic address to Israeli parliamentarians.

Flanked by Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the US president can be seen holding a book in which he wrote: “This is a great honour – a great and beautiful day. A new beginning”. Trump’s signature can be seen beside the text.

Amir Ohana, the Knesset speaker, welcomed Trump by saying “we’ve been longing for this day.” Some people in the gallery wore red hats that said ”Trump, The Peace President.”

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Updated at 10.29 CEST

Second group of 13 hostages has been handed over to the Red Cross – public radio

A second group of 13 Israeli hostages have been released by Hamas to the Red Cross, according to Israeli public radio.

Hamas has confirmed that this means that all of the living Israeli hostages have now been released.

As a reminder, as per the terms of the ceasefire agreement, 20 living hostages were due to be handed over this morning, with the bodies of up to 28 also released.

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Updated at 10.23 CEST

First images of freed Israeli hostages published

The Israeli Government Press Office have released images of the seven Israeli hostages released by Hamas this morning.

Here is one of brothers Gali and Ziv Bermam:

Another picture shows freed hostage Alon Ohel meeting with Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip after being freed from Hamas captivity this morning.

Here is one of Eitan Mor, who was reportedly working as a security guard at the Nova music festival during the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel in October 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken hostage.

Guy Gilboa-Dalal has also been pictured meeting Israeli soldiers in Gaza this morning. He was at the Nova festival two years ago, dancing with his brother in a grove of trees just a few miles from Gaza. Soon after, he was kidnapped by Hamas.

Here is a picture of Matan Angrest talking with an IDF officer upon his release from Hamas captivity this morning:

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Updated at 10.12 CEST

The US president, Donald Trump, and Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, have been pictured in deep conversation as they talked in a car after the welcoming ceremony at Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport this morning.

Trump said yesterday that the “war is over” but huge questions hang over the future of Gaza, namely the territory’s governance and whether or not Hamas is willing to disarm.

Trump will be addressing the Knesset – the Israeli parliament – shortly.

Donald Trump speaks with Benjamin Netanyahu, his close ally. Photograph: Ariel Schalit/APShare

EU to resume Rafah border control mission, EU foreign policy chief says

The EU’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, also welcomed the release of seven Israeli hostages by Hamas, highlighting Donald Trump’s role in this “crucial milestone towards peace”.

She wrote in a post on X:

Today marks a rare moment of hope in the Middle East. The release of hostages is a major success for diplomacy and a crucial milestone toward peace. President Trump made this breakthrough possible. Securing peace in Gaza will be extraordinarily complex.

The peace plan requires strong international backing to succeed. The EU stands ready to do its part. On Wednesday, it will restart a civilian mission to monitor the border crossing between Gaza and Egypt. This mission can play an important role in supporting the ceasefire.

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Updated at 09.47 CEST

The UK’s prime minister, Keir Starmer, has given his reaction to the first set of Israeli hostages being released. He is among the 20 world leaders attending the Egyptian summit later today.

Starmer wrote in a post on X:

Today is the first, crucial phase in ending the war in the Middle East. Now we must deliver lasting peace and a secure future for the whole region.

The UK is providing additional humanitarian aid for civilians in Gaza, and we will lead efforts to accelerate its reconstruction.

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Trump’s envoy praises UK’s role in securing ‘historic day’ in Israel

The Trump administration’s Middle East envoy has praised the “vital role” of the UK in talks to secure a ceasefire in Gaza.

Steve Witkoff, who helped broker the ceasefire deal last week, lauded the “incredible input” of National Security adviser Jonathan Powell in a post on X early this morning.

I would like to acknowledge the vital role of the United Kingdom in assisting and coordinating efforts that have led us to this historic day in Israel. In particular, I want to recognize the incredible input and tireless efforts of National Security Advisor Jonathan Powell.

— Special Envoy Steve Witkoff (@SEPeaceMissions) October 13, 2025

Witkoff wrote:

I would like to acknowledge the vital role of the United Kingdom in assisting and coordinating efforts that have led us to this historic day in Israel.

In particular, I want to recognise the incredible input and tireless efforts of National Security Advisor Jonathan Powell.

Ivanka Trump (L), Steve Witkoff (C), and Jared Kushner (C-R) arrive at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv. Photograph: Abir Sultan/EPA

It came after a suggestion from a UK cabinet minister on Sunday that the UK played a “key role” in securing the Gaza ceasefire was rejected by top US and Israeli figures, which looked to be potentially awkward for Keir Starmer, the British prime minister.

US ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, called Bridget Phillipson’s comments “delusional”, while Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s deputy foreign minister, Sharren Haskel, rejected her characterisation of the UK’s role.

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Summary of day so far…

It has just gone past 10:20am in Tel Aviv and Gaza. Here is a quick update on where things stand:

• In total, 20 living hostages – kidnapped during the deadly Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023 – are due to be released today. Seven have already been handed over by Hamas and have crossed into Israeli territory for a medical check up, before being able to reunite with their loved ones.

• The hostages released so far were named as Matan Engerst, Guy Gilboa Dalal, Alon Ohel, Gali and Zivi Berman, Eitan Mor and Omari Moran.

• The remaining 13 confirmed living hostages, along with the bodies of 26 dead hostages and another two whose fate is unknown, are also expected to be released on Monday, according to Reuters.

• We are expecting the second group of living hostages to be released shortly.

• In exchange for the hostages, Israel will release 250 Palestinian prisoners and hand over 1,700 detainees.

• The US president, Donald Trump, was this morning greeted on a red carpet at Ben Gurion airport by Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and president Isaac Herzog.

• Trump will address the Israeli parliament before travelling to Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt for a world leaders’ summit on ending Israel’s war in Gaza.

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IDF: first group of Israeli hostages arrive at initial reception point in Israeli territory

The IDF said the seven hostages handed over by Hamas earlier (see post at 07.24 for their names) have arrived at the “initial reception point” in Israeli territory.

They will soon undergo an initial medical evaluation and meet with their families at the reception point in the Gaza Envelope area, according to the IDF.

The Israeli military added in its social media post:

IDF representatives are accompanying all the families waiting at the hospitals and providing them with ongoing updates. The IDF is prepared to receive additional hostages who are expected to be transferred to the Red Cross later.

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Red Cross on its way to collect second group of hostages, IDF says

The Israeli military has just posted an update about some of the remaining living hostages.

In a post on X, the IDF wrote:

According to received information, the Red Cross is on its way to another meeting point in the southern sector, where several hostages will be handed over to it.

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Netanyahu welcomes Trump in Israel

You can watch Donald Trump as he is greeted by Benjamin Netanyahu in this live feed below:

Donald Trump arrives in Israel and is due to address the Knesset – watch live

Trump shakes hands with Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the country’s president Isaac Herzog, with his Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, daughter Ivanka Trump and son-in-law Jared Kushner watching on.

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Updated at 09.08 CEST