Hamas frees hostages as part of Trump-brokered ceasefire

BAGHDAD – Palestinian militant group Hamas released the first seven surviving Israeli hostages on Monday, marking the first phase of a ceasefire brokered with the help of US President Donald Trump.

According to a statement from the Israeli army, the hostages were handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross in Gaza.

Another transfer is expected to follow involving 13 surviving hostages and 28 additional prisoners – including 26 confirmed dead and two whose status remains uncertain.

As part of the deal, Israel would also release nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees later on Monday.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani said in an interview with CNBC that Trump is “serious about achieving peace” ahead of a high-stakes summit in Egypt aimed at ending the two-year war in Gaza.

Egypt will host more than 20 world leaders, including Trump, in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh on Monday for talks expected to focus on securing a lasting peace and rebuilding the devastated enclave.

Al-Sudani called the US initiative “important” and expressed hope that the ceasefire would be “lasting and the beginning of a radical solution to this problem.”

“The Palestinian issue is the root of the problem in the Middle East,” he told CNBC's Dan Murphy. “It is time to find solutions through dialogue and respect for international institutions and agreements.”

The comments come after a two-year conflict sparked by Hamas' attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which killed around 1,200 people while hundreds were taken hostage. More than 67,000 Palestinians, including thousands of civilians, have been killed in Israel's response, according to Israel's Health Ministry.

Al-Sudani said Iraq supports “any peaceful solution that leads to an end to this war,” warning that civilians in Gaza face not only bombardments but also “hunger, thirst and the lack of the most basic necessities of life.”

“Iraq is a country that has suffered the most from wars,” he added. “We are sensitive to all these issues that are harming the humanitarian community.”

When asked about reports that former British Prime Minister Tony Blair would help coordinate Gaza's post-war transition, Al-Sudani described Blair as “a great friend of the Iraqis” and welcomed his involvement.

“Under the plan, there was a need for an international government or individual to assist… in managing this transition process,” he said, citing the urgent need to restore services and provide aid.

On whether Iraq could normalize ties with Israel, Al-Sudani said Baghdad's position is determined by law and is “a principled position.”

“Our government belongs to a parliamentary system and is bound by the laws enacted by parliament,” he said.

Israel, he added, “has unfortunately committed many crimes against the Palestinian people over the past decades. Palestinians deserve a better reality and a better future today.”

Turning to broader regional tensions, Al-Sudani warned that peace efforts cannot be limited to Gaza.

“Syria certainly represents a national security problem for Iraq, and it also affects the national security of all countries in the region,” he said.

He described Israeli incursions into Syrian territory as “wrong and unacceptable,” saying they violate international law and “entrench instability in a country that everyone wants to see restored.”

The prime minister added that remnants of the Islamic State group continue to operate in Syria after seizing weapons from the former Syrian army.

“They pose a real threat to all countries in the region,” he said.

“Any weakening of the government in Damascus will allow extremists to take control and threaten the security and stability of this sensitive region.”