Hamas fighters carried out public executions, defying Israel's assertion that war cannot end under President Donald Trump's plan until the militants are disarmed.

The first of 48 hostages, both dead and alive, were released by Hamas this morning as Palestinians awaited the expected release of scores of prisoners and detainees held by Israel.

Hamas released all 20 living Israeli hostages on Monday as part of a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, and U.S. President Donald Trump is in the region to discuss postwar plans.

As the Gaza war dragged on, a diminished Hamas faced growing internal challenges to its control of Gaza from long-standing rivals, many of them affiliated with powerful local clans.

WASHINGTON – Hamas has released 20 hostages held in Gaza after 738 days in captivity. The hostages were freed on Monday, Oct. 13, as part of a ceasefire brokered by the United States.

Tensions rose sharply and quickly after two members of Hamas's elite forces were shot dead by gunmen from the powerful Dughmush clan in Gaza City's Sabra neighbourhood. One of them was the son of a senior commander in Hamas's armed wing, Imad Aqel, who now heads the group's military intelligence.

Hostage and prisoner exchanges took place between Israel and Hamas and there appeared to be an end to a two-year war. But campuses are still reeling with the aftermath of two years of pro-Palestinian protests,

Twenty Israeli hostages were released in Gaza Oct. 13 as part of the initial phase of a peace agreement between Israel and Hamas.

Vice President JD Vance confirmed to ABC "This Week" co-anchor George Stephanopoulos that Hamas has said they are holding 20 living hostages, and that those hostages are expected to be released in the next 24 hours as President Donald Trump was headed to the region later Sunday to mark the occasion.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang sent a letter to staff expressing gratitude after Avinatan Or, an Israeli employee, was released from Hamas captivity following a U.S.-brokered ceasefire deal.