Hamas begins releasing Israeli hostages, as Trump heads to Israel

Palestinian militant group Hamas released the first seven surviving Israeli hostages on Monday, an official involved in the operation said, the initial phase of a ceasefire agreement that US President Donald Trump helped to broker aimed at ending the conflict in Gaza. The truce and the exchange of both hostages and prisoners follow two years of war that evolved into a regional conflict, drawing in countries such as Iran, Yemen and Lebanon, while deepening Israel's international isolation and reshaping the Middle East. The seven hostages had been transferred to the International Committee of the Red Cross from the armed wing of Hamas in Gaza, the official said. The handover of the 13 remaining surviving hostages, plus 28 other Israeli hostages...