The remaining living Israeli hostages are being freed by Hamas this morning – with Donald Trump in Israel to mark the moment. The US president and other world leaders are gathering in Egypt for a “signing ceremony” to mark the Gaza peace plan later today. Watch and follow live below.
Monday 13 October 2025 08:21, UK
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A government minister has played down a “he said, she said” row that broke out between the education secretary and the US ambassador to Israel yesterday.
As per our post at 7.19, Mike Huckabee called Bridget Phillipson “delusional” after she told Sky News the UK played a key role in the Gaza peace deal.
Asked for his reaction to the comments by our lead world news presenter Yalda Hakim, Middle East minister Hamish Falconer said a short while ago: “I’ve been absolutely clear on the very, very important role that I think President Trump and his team, including special envoy Witkoff, played in these negotiations.
“I see the special envoy Witkoff has called out the UK’s vital role in this, which is a generous and welcome statement, and I don’t think it’s at all out of keeping with what the education secretary said yesterday, so I’m not really going to get into a ‘he said, she said’ about this.”
The minister adds the UK government “really cares” about the ceasefire deal and “will stick at this”.
Watch Falconer giving his reaction to the hostage release on Sky News below…
Sir Keir Starmer has provided his reaction to the ongoing exchange between Israel and Hamas on social media.
“Today is the first, crucial phase in ending the war in the Middle East,” the prime minister said in an X post.
“Now we must deliver lasting peace and a secure future for the whole region.
“The UK is providing additional humanitarian aid for civilians in Gaza, and we will lead efforts to accelerate its reconstruction.”
Starmer is among 20 world leaders attending a summit in the Egyptian city of Sharm el Sheikh later where the Gaza peace plan will be signed.
Donald Trump will head there later after events in Israel – including speaking at the Israeli parliament.
We’ve just had a statement from the Al-Qassam Brigades military wing of Hamas trying to talk up the success of the war.
“The agreement reached is the fruit of the steadfastness of our people and the resilience of their resistance fighters,” it begins.
“We declare our commitment to the agreement reached and its associated timetables, as long as the occupation adheres to them.”
“The resistance has always been keen to stop the war of extermination and has sought to do so since the first months.”
It goes on to say Israel “has failed to recover its prisoners through military pressure, despite its superior intelligence and the surplus power it possesses”.
“Now it has surrendered and recovered its prisoners through an exchange deal, as the resistance promised from the beginning,” the statement adds.
Hamas attacked Israel on October 7 2023 – killing around 1,200 and seizing hundreds of hostages.
Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry says more than 67,000 Palestinians have been killed since during Israel’s response.
The Israeli military has said the Red Cross is on its way to another meeting point in Gaza to receive more hostages.
Seven hostages have been released so far today, and they are now back in Israeli territory after being handed over by the Red Cross (see 7.39 post).
Under the agreement, Hamas has until 10am UK time to hand over 13 more living hostages.
Watch below: The first footage of the Red Cross freeing the initial wave of seven hostages earlier this morning
The red carpet has been rolled out for Donald Trump as he walks down the steps of Air Force One after landing in Israel.
Our international correspondent Alex Rossi says the visit is a “victory lap” for the US president with the hostage release under way.
Trump shakes hands with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the country’s president Isaac Herzog, with his Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, daughter Ivanka Trump and son-in-law Jared Kushner watching on.
Speaking to reporters on Air Force One on his flight to Israel, Trump declared the war was “over”.
Israel Katz, Israel’s defence minister, has posted on X to mark the release of the first wave of hostages.
He said: “The State of Israel and the security establishment embrace our first seven hostages returning home, including IDF soldier Matan Angrest.
“We await all of them with excitement and great love.”
Air Force One has just landed at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv.
Donald Trump will be spending a few hours in Israel, where he will meet families of hostages and speak at the Knesset – Israel’s parliament.
He will then travel on to Egypt for a peace summit with world leaders and an official signing ceremony of the first phase of his Gaza peace deal.
Last night, during his flight to Israel, Trump told reporters the “war is over”.
A reminder, you can watch live at the top of this page.
In Israel, preparations are stepping up to welcome the hostages as they cross into Israeli territory.
Military workers have been pictured outside the Sheba Medical Centre in Ramat Gan, Israel, readying to welcome any hostages who need care.
Israel’s military has said the first seven hostages released today have now crossed the border and are back in Israeli territory.
The hostages are on their way to the Re’im base in southern Israel, where they will be reunited with their families.
Once they are with their families, they will be taken to one of three main hospitals – with 10 taken to Sheba Medical Centre, five to Beilinson and five to Ichilov.
The first seven hostages to have been released are:
A reminder, we’re also expecting 13 other hostages to be released by Hamas before 10am UK time.
Crowds of emotional Israelis have been pictured in Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, as news of the release of the first seven hostages came through.
Some 65,000 people have gathered in the square today, The Times of Israel reports.
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