Forward of a summit in Egypt on Monday, world leaders hailed the discharge of the 20 remaining dwelling hostages after over two years of Hamas captivity as a part of a Gaza ceasefire brokered by US President Donald Trump.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz congratulated the households of the hostages, and known as on Hamas to return the 28 different hostages, 26 of whom have been confirmed lifeless by the IDF and for 2 of whose fates Israel has expressed grave concern.
“Lastly,” posted Merz on X in English, Hebrew and German after the discharge of the dwelling hostages, 4 of whom — Alon Ohel, Rom Braslavski and twin brothers Gali and Ziv Berman — additionally maintain German citizenship. “After 738 days, the hostages are returning dwelling – with Germans amongst them. Behind them lie two years of concern, ache and hope. At the moment, households can lastly as soon as once more embrace their family members.”
“The hostages who have been murdered should additionally return dwelling, in order that their households may give them a dignified farewell,” stated Merz.
Hamas stated it might launch solely 4 of the remaining 28 hostages on Monday, regardless of being required to launch all hostages, dwelling and lifeless, by Monday. The 28 remaining hostages embrace a soldier killed preventing within the 2014 Gaza conflict and 27 kidnapped within the Hamas onslaught of October 7, 2023, which sparked the present Gaza conflict.
“At the present time is a begin: when therapeutic can start and a step taken on the trail to peace within the Center East,” stated Merz.
Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz (C) leaves a bilateral assembly with Qatar’s emir on the sidelines of the Peace Summit, within the Egyptian Pink Sea resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh, on October 13, 2025. (Yoan VALAT / POOL / AFP)
French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who’ve angered Israel’s authorities by recognizing Palestinian statehood in September, additionally expressed reduction on the hostage launch, and pledged to work for peace in Gaza throughout the Sharm el-Sheikh summit.
Writing on X in English, Hebrew and French following the discharge of the primary seven hostages, Macron stated: “I share the enjoyment of the households and of the Israeli folks as seven hostages have simply been handed over to the Pink Cross.”
“With their launch — and that of the 13 different hostages anticipated this morning — peace turns into attainable for Israel, for Gaza and for the area,” he stated, including that “France shall be concerned in each stage of President Trump’s plan, alongside the Arab companions it helped mobilize.”
“However for now, let there be pleasure,” Macron concluded.
(L-R) French President Emmanuel Macron, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on the Peace Summit, within the Egyptian Pink Sea resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh, on October 13, 2025. (Suzanne Plunkett / POOL / AFP)
Starmer, in an announcement on the hostages’ launch, paid tribute to newly launched hostage Avinatan Or, whose mom is British, and slain hostage Yossi Sharabi, whose murdered sister-in-law Lianne Sharabi — the spouse of launched hostage Eli Sharabi — was British.
“I share the deep feeling of reduction as Avinatan Or and different hostages are launched in the present day. However that is additionally a stark reminder of the therapy that he has been topic to by the hands of Hamas, and the atrocities that shook the world two years in the past,” he stated.
“Having met his household, I do know that nobody can actually perceive the torture and agony they suffered for 2 drawn-out years and my ideas are with them. My ideas are additionally with the household of Yossi Sharabi, who’re nonetheless ready for information,” he stated.
Starmer hailed “the tireless diplomatic efforts” of the US, Egypt, Qatar and Turkey in securing the Gaza deal and stated it was “now essential that we work collectively to implement President Trump’s peace plan for Gaza, and that shall be my focus in Egypt in the present day.”
US President Donald Trump, left, meets with Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi throughout a summit on Gaza within the Egyptian resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh, October 13, 2025. (Evan Vucci / POOL / AFP)
Carney stated the discharge of hostages in Gaza on Monday should be a turning level for lasting peace, urging all sides to uphold the phrases of a ceasefire settlement.
“We name on all events to proceed implementing the phrases of the ceasefire settlement, together with sustaining the withdrawal of Israeli troops and permitting sustained humanitarian help at scale into and all through Gaza directly,” he stated in an announcement.
“The discharge of hostages should be a turning level towards lasting peace,” he added, saying Hamas should disarm and play no position sooner or later governance of a demilitarized Palestinian state.
UN chief Antonio Guterres, who was additionally anticipated to participate within the Sharm el-Sheikh summit, welcomed the hostage launch on Monday, known as for the return of the slain hostages and urged all sides to construct on the momentum and “finish the nightmare” within the Palestinian territory.
Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney leaves a bilateral assembly with Qatar’s emir on the sidelines of the Peace Summit, within the Egyptian Pink Sea resort city of Sharm el Sheikh, on October 13, 2025. (Yoan VALAT / POOL / AFP)
“I’m profoundly relieved that they’ve regained their freedom and shall be quickly reunited with their family members after the immense struggling they’ve endured, and I reiterate my name for the discharge of the stays of the deceased hostages,” stated Guterres, whom Israel final 12 months declared persona non grata for his criticism of the Gaza conflict.
Leaders who weren’t participating within the Sharm el-Sheikh summit additionally welcomed the hostage launch.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated the Gaza ceasefire-hostage deal introduced hope for peace in Ukraine amid its conflict with Russia, which invaded Ukraine in 2022.
“When peace is achieved for one a part of the world, it brings extra hope for peace in different areas the place life continues to be underneath risk,” he stated.
Launched hostage Avinatan Or, proper, reunites along with his girlfriend and former hostage Noa Argamani, upon his launch from captivity on October 13, 2025. (IDF)
“That is actually a unprecedented occasion,” he added, hailing “the management and dedication of President Trump,” who has additionally sought to dealer an finish to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Argentina’s staunchly pro-Israel President Javier Milei additionally hailed Trump’s “extraordinary management and braveness in ending the conflict and liberating the hostages,” together with three Argentinian nationals: brothers Ariel and David Cunio, and Eitan Horn — whose brother Iair was launched in February as a part of the earlier Gaza ceasefire.
“We additionally await with hope the immediate restitution of the stays of Lior Rudaeff,” one other Argentinian nationwide, whose physique was captured when he was killed keeping off terrorists from Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak throughout the October 7 bloodbath.
Launched hostage David Cunio after he was handed over to the IDF after over two years of captivity within the Gaza Strip, October 13, 2025. (Israel Protection Forces)
Serbian Overseas Minister Marko Đurić additionally expressed “pleasure, pleasure and pure happiness on this unbelievable morning” on the return of Ohel, who holds Serbian citizenship along with his German citizenship. Đurić added that Trump obtained a “well-deserved hero’s welcome” in Israel.
Irish Overseas Minister Simon Harris, who has been harshly crucial of Israel and as premier final 12 months acknowledged Palestinian statehood, stated in an announcement that “in the present day, after greater than two years of horror, ache and unimaginable lack of life, there’s a ray of hope.”
“At the moment is a significant step ahead for peace and a day little doubt many households who had family members taken hostage feared would by no means come,” he stated.
1000’s collect at Tel Aviv’s Hostage Sq. to have fun the return of hostages from Gaza after greater than two years of Hamas captivity, October 13, 2025. (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
With out mentioning Trump, Israel or Hamas, he added: “No peace plan is ideal. Such a factor doesn’t exist. We all know that from our personal complicated historical past however we additionally understand how even probably the most complicated conflicts and wars can finish if everybody commits to peace and political pathways.
“For our half, we in Eire stay prepared to help in any means we will,” he stated. “We’re already aiding by way of the supply of humanitarian help to a ravenous folks in Gaza.”
Companies contributed to this report.
