Netanyahu will join Trump at peace summit in Egypt, Egyptian presidency says
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu will join the international peace summit in Egypt later, which will be co-chaired by US President Trump and his Egyptian counterpart, Abdel Fatah al-Sisi, the Egyptian presidency has said.
It was previously thought the Israeli leader would not be joining. Hamas has said it is not coming to the “peace summit” with regional and international leaders.
Jubilant scenes across Israel as families and loved ones reunited with freed hostages
The Guardian’s chief reporter, Daniel Boffey, has been reporting from the ground in Tel Aviv amid jubilant scenes across Israel as hostages were finally released by Hamas.
Emotional footage was shared by Israeli broadcasters to an estimated 65,000 people gathered in front of large screens on “hostages square” in Tel Aviv and to millions more watching the coverage at home.
In a statement the family of Omri Miran, 48, who was abducted in front of his wife and two children during Hamas’s attack on Israel of 7 October 2023 at Nahal Oz kibbutz, said his return was a victory for “an entire people”.
They said: “After more than 700 long, painful, and agonising days, Omri will finally receive from [his children] Roni and Alma a healing embrace. We want to thank the people of Israel from the bottom of our hearts for standing by us in the darkest hours and on days when this moment seemed like a distant and impossible wish. This moment, today, is not a personal victory but a victory of an entire people.
“We also want to express our deep gratitude to the security forces and the heroic [Israel Defense Force] soldiers. We are at the beginning of a complex and challenging, yet moving, journey of recovery.
“We remain committed to the struggle until the last hostage returns, and until the complete recovery of our beloved country. May Omri’s return mark the beginning of this recovery and the unity of our people.”
The family of Matan Angrest, 22, an Israel Defense Force soldier captured when his tank was attacked by Hamas near the Gaza perimeter fence, who have been critical of the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, over the continuation of the war, praised Donald Trump.
They said: “We can breathe again. Our Matan is home. Our beloved boy has been returned to us after two complex years, and we are so proud of him … A huge, historic, eternal thank you to the president of the United States and his team who worked with dedication and persistence for the rescue and return of our loved ones.
“The joy in our family is mixed with sadness for those murdered and for those who were not returned alive.”