LONDON: Standing before Israeli lawmakers in Jerusalem on Monday, US President Donald Trump declared an end to what he called “a long and painful nightmare.” Twenty surviving hostages had just been released from Gaza after more than two years in captivity. In return, Israel has begun freeing almost 2,000 Palestinian prisoners as part of the first phase of a US-brokered ceasefire with Hamas. “For so many families across this land, it has been years since you’ve known a single day of true peace,” Trump told the Knesset.

The US president told reporters that the bodies of Israelis who died in captivity in Gaza are 'being unearthed'.

GAZA CITY, Palestinian Territories: Hamas will begin releasing Israeli hostages held in Gaza on Monday morning, a top official from the Palestinian militant group told AFP, before…