(MENAFN) The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) announced early Monday that it had begun facilitating the liberation of Israeli captives held in the Gaza Strip.
This operation is part of a wider truce agreement between the conflicting sides.

According to a statement shared via the social platform X by the Israeli military, seven hostages had already been freed and were being accompanied to Israel by military personnel along with Shin Bet intelligence operatives.

A broadcaster reported that these seven individuals were handed over directly to ICRC staff.

The outlet further noted that the remaining thirteen surviving Israeli captives are expected to be released later, specifically at 10 p.m. local time (0700 GMT), from the central region of Gaza.

Another Israeli broadcaster, disclosed the names of the seven freed hostages. They include Eitan Mor, Gali Berman, Ziv Berman, Matan Angrest, Omri Miran, Guy Gilboa-Dalal, and Alon Ohel, all of whom are currently en route back to Israel.

On Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that Israel and the Palestinian faction Hamas had reached an understanding to initiate the first phase of his proposed 20-point framework designed to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza.

This proposal entails the release of every Israeli detainee in return for the freedom of roughly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, along with a staged pullback of Israeli troops from the territory. The initial phase of this deal was enacted on Friday.

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