United States President Donald Trump has arrived in Israel to address the Israeli parliament.
The Next Edition understands that Trump will address lawmakers before he travels to Egypt’s Sharm el-Sheikh for a world leaders’ summit on ending Israel’s war on Gaza.
He was greeted by his close ally, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife, Sara, alongside US special envoy Steve Witkoff, who helped broker the ceasefire deal.
Speaking on board Air Force One on his way to Israel, Trump had said “the war is over”.
He said the ceasefire would hold and a “Board of Peace” would quickly be set up for Gaza, which he said looked like a “demolition site”.
He also praised the roles of Benjamin Netanyahu and Qatar, one of the mediators.
The deadline for Hamas to release all the hostages it is still holding in Gaza is midday local time (10:00 BST).
Hamas had earlier released seven hostages into the custody of the Red Cross, marking the first set of captives freed under the newly signed ceasefire deal, according to an Associated Press report.
Naija News understands that there was no immediate information on their condition. Israeli media also reported the release, though official confirmation was still pending at press time.
News of the handover sparked wild jubilation among families and friends of the captives, with Israeli television announcing that the hostages were now in the custody of the Red Cross.
The war was triggered by the Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken hostage.
Since then, more than 67,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israel’s military response, including more than 18,000 children, the Hamas-run health ministry says.
The ceasefire in Gaza took effect on Friday morning after Israel and Hamas agreed to the first phase of the 20-point peace plan brokered by Trump, with the next phases still to be negotiated.
Twenty of the Israeli hostages are believed to be alive, and Hamas is also due to hand over the remains of up to 28 deceased hostages.
Israel would also release around 250 Palestinian prisoners and 1,700 detainees from Gaza, while increased amounts of aid should enter the Strip.
