Hostage Release Begins as Gaza Peace Summit Kicks Off

October 13 is marked for the Middle East by two parallel but closely intertwined events: the long-awaited release of Israeli hostages from the Gaza Strip and, concurrently, the release of thousands of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli jails. Against the backdrop of these dramatic developments, an international summit kicks off in the Egyptian city of Sharm el-Sheikh, which will be attended by more than 20 world leaders. These events are taking place under the conditions of a fragile but hopeful ceasefire, which is supposed to end the two-year bloody conflict.

The most emotional moment of the day is the start of the process of releasing 20 living hostages held captive in Gaza for two years. The vehicles of the International Committee of the Red Cross have entered the Gaza Strip to bring out the first group of hostages. This operation is one of the key points of the peace agreement reached through the mediation of US President Donald Trump. Israeli society, holding its breath, is following the development of events. Thousands of people have gathered in Tel Aviv's "Hostages Square," which has become a symbol, to express their support and together witness the return of their compatriots.

On the other side of the deal is the large-scale release of Palestinian prisoners by Israel. Within the framework of the agreement, 1,966 Palestinians will be released today. They have already left their cells in Israeli prisons and are seated on buses, awaiting transfer. The transfer process is meticulously planned: 250 of those released will be sent to the West Bank, Jerusalem, and other countries, while the main part, 1,716 people, will be transferred to the Gaza Strip, near the Nasser Hospital. This exchange, unprecedented in its scale in recent years, is considered a crucial step towards strengthening trust, aimed at maintaining the ceasefire.

Parallel to these humanitarian processes, the focus of world diplomacy is on the "Summit for Peace" in Sharm el-Sheikh, co-chaired by US President Donald Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. The aim of the summit is to consolidate the ceasefire and discuss issues of post-war governance, reconstruction, and security in Gaza. The event is attended by high-ranking representatives from Turkey, Jordan, Great Britain, Germany, France, Italy, as well as the UN and the European Union. It is noteworthy that the head of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, is present at the summit, while representatives of Israel and Hamas were not invited, which emphasizes that this is not a platform for direct negotiations, but for developing an internationally coordinated strategy.

This summit is seen as an attempt to open a "new page of peace and stability" in the Middle East. Despite the optimism for success, many fundamental questions remain unanswered, including the future model of governance for Gaza and the creation of long-term security guarantees in the region. The events of October 13 are crucial not only for thousands of families but also for the future of the entire region.