Palestinians and Israelis cheer reunions as hostages released

According to medical sources in the Gaza Strip on Sunday, the death toll since Oct 7, 2023, had risen to 67,806, while 170,066 have been wounded. Over the past 24 hours, at least 124 people, including 117 bodies that have been retrieved and 33 injured, were taken to hospitals in Gaza. But local authorities also fear there could be more victims under the rubble.

Trucks of humanitarian aid continued to flow into Gaza, where famine has broken out amid Israel's bombardment and blockade of the territory. Many of Gaza's 2.3 million people are reported to be on the brink of starvation.

Trump, heading to Egypt for the peace summit, mentioned a "Board of Peace" to be formed by a "group of wealthy nations" and said he hoped Palestinians would build Gaza up "instead of tearing Israel down".

Addressing the Knesset before Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed victory over Hamas, Iran and the Houthis in Yemen. He also said that under Trump's leadership, Israel "can forge new peace treaties with Arab countries in the region and Muslim countries beyond the region".

In a televised address on Sunday, Netanyahu said the country's military campaign "is not over". Israeli military chief Eyal Zamir also said the military "will continue to act in order to shape a security reality that ensures the Gaza Strip no longer poses a threat to the State of Israel and its civilians", Xinhua reported.

As news broke of Hamas's first release of seven hostages, Israeli forces raided the home of Palestinian prisoner Ahmed Kaabneh in Aqabat Jaber camp, south of Jericho, prior to his expected release under the ceasefire agreement, Wafa News Agency reported.