The final 20 remaining living hostages taken by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023, were returned to Israel on Monday as part of an exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, officials said.

The "cruelty of October 7 struck the heart of humanity," and the US mourned alongside Israel, Trump said, adding that "Because of us, the long and painful nightmare is finally over. " US President Donald Trump addressed the Knesset’s plenum on Monday,

The ceasefire and release of hostages is the first step in the plan proposed by Trump. Competing demands remain on the next steps.

The IDF names two of the deceased hostages as Bipin Joshi and Guy Illouz, but is yet to name the other two. Meanwhile, the World Health Organization says it's scaling up operations in Gaza.

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Hamas released all 20 remaining living hostages held in Gaza on Monday, while Israel began releasing hundreds of Palestinian prisoners as part of a ceasefire pausing two years of war that pummeled the territory, killed tens of thousands of Palestinians, and had left scores of captives in Hamas’ hands.