Hamas Releases First Group of Israeli Hostages

Emotional Scenes as First Hostages Come Home
On Monday, Israel's military announced the handover of the first seven of 20 living hostages, who were brought back with the help of the Red Cross. The release of the hostages created emotional scenes throughout Israel, particularly in Tel Aviv's Hostage Square, where hundreds gathered to commemorate the occasion.

"I am so excited. I am full of happiness. It's hard to imagine how I feel at this moment. I didn't sleep all night," said released hostage Nimrod Cohen, along with his mother Viki, as they made their way to Reim, an Israeli military camp hosting families with the handful of freed hostages.

In Gaza, armed men, believed to be Hamas members, gathered at Nasser Hospital, where a stage had been constructed to receive Palestinian prisoners as part of the same agreement.

Part of a larger ceasefire and peace process
On the same day, about another 13 living of the remaining hostages will also be exchanged on Monday, along with the bodies of 26 dead hostages, and a handful of others who are unaccounted for. In exchange, nearly 2,000 Palestinian detainees and prisoners will be released.

The same extensive exchange is a critical part of the first stage of the peace deal, which was finalized last week in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. World leaders are going there today to discuss the additional steps toward a more permanent peace agreement.

Oil-rich, intense warfare has wreaked havoc in Gaza for the past two years, leaving most of the population displaced, and generating varying degrees of humanitarian distress, while additionally elevating the tensions between Israel and Iran, Hezbollah and Yemen.

Later today, global leaders meeting in Sharm el-Sheikh are expected to discuss commitments for a permanent peace settlement in the region, amidst the return of the living hostages.