Hamas releases all 20 living hostages

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Hamas has freed all 20 of the remaining living hostages it seized during its October 7 2023 attack on Israel, a landmark in efforts to end the two-year war that comes ahead of the planned release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.

The Israeli military said on Monday that Hamas had released the final 13 living hostages after handing over seven others earlier in the day to the Red Cross at a location in Gaza.

“According to information provided by the Red Cross, 13 hostages have been transferred into their custody and are on their way to [Israeli military and security] forces in the Gaza Strip,” the military said.

In exchange for the move — which is due to be followed by the return of the bodies of a further 28 hostages who have died — Israel is due to release more than 1,900 Palestinians, including 250 serving life sentences and another 1,700 Gazans who have been seized and held without charge by Israel since October 7.

This is a developing story