Israeli military helicopters wait in preparation to take hostages released by Hamas in Gaza to hospitals in Israel after they arrive in the southern Reim army base on October 13, 2025.
Maya Levin | Afp | Getty Images
BAGHDAD — Palestinian militant group Hamas released the first seven surviving Israeli hostages on Monday, marking the first stage of a ceasefire deal brokered with the help of U.S. President Donald Trump.
According to a statement from the Israel Defense Forces, the hostages were handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross in Gaza.
Another transfer involving 13 surviving hostages and 28 additional captives — including 26 confirmed dead and two whose status remains uncertain — is expected to follow.
As part of the agreement, Israel was also scheduled to free nearly 2,000 Palestinian detainees and prisoners later on Monday.
Iraq’s Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani, in an interview with CNBC, said Trump is “serious about achieving peace” after Washington helped broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, ahead of a high-stakes summit in Egypt aimed at ending the two-year war in Gaza.
Egypt is set to 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 U.S. initiative “important” and expressed hope the truce would be “sustainable 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 Oct. 7, 2023, which killed some 1,200 people, while hundreds were taken hostage. Israel’s response left more than 67,000 Palestinians dead, including thousands of civilians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
Al-Sudani said Iraq supports “every peaceful solution that leads to an end to this war,” warning that civilians in Gaza face not only bombardment 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 problems that harm the humanitarian community.”
Postwar plans
When asked about reports that former British Prime Minister Tony Blair would help coordinate Gaza’s postwar transition, Al-Sudani described Blair as “a great friend of the Iraqis” and welcomed his involvement.
“According to the plan, there was a need for an international administration or person to assist … in managing this transitional process,” he said, citing the urgent need to restore services and deliver aid.
On whether Iraq might normalize ties with Israel, Al-Sudani said Baghdad’s stance is defined by law and “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 decades. The Palestinians today deserve a better reality and a better future.”
Regional flashpoints
Turning to broader regional tensions, Al-Sudani cautioned that peace efforts cannot be limited to Gaza.
“Syria certainly represents a national security issue 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 “incorrect and unacceptable,” saying they violate international law and “entrench instability in a country that everyone is keen to see recover.”
The prime minister added that remnants of the Islamic State group continue to operate in Syria, having seized weapons from the former Syrian army.
“They represent a real threat to all countries in the region,” he said.
“Any weakening of the administration in Damascus will enable extremists to seize control and threaten the security and stability of this sensitive region.”