The release of the remaining 20 living Israeli hostages held by Hamas—part of the first phase of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire deal—began early Monday morning local time (around 8 a.m. Israel time, or 1 a.m. ET).
This follows the broader agreement announced on October 9, where Hamas pledged to free all 48 remaining hostages (living and dead) in exchange for 250 Palestinian life-sentence prisoners and over 1,700 detainees held since the October 7, 2023, attacks.
The releases are staggered from multiple locations in Gaza, with Israeli officials confirming the process started on schedule, though not all deceased hostages' remains may be returned immediately.
President Trump arrived in Israel to oversee the handovers and meet with families, framing it as a historic end to the war.
Cable news channels—CNN, MSNBC, and Fox News—provided wall-to-wall live coverage starting Sunday evening ET, blending real-time updates, expert analysis, emotional family interviews, and political commentary. Viewership spiked, with preliminary Nielsen data showing CNN averaging 2.8 million viewers during prime-time Sunday slots (up 45% YoY), MSNBC at 1.9 million (up 32%), and Fox News leading at 3.4 million (up 28%).
Coverage emphasized the human drama, Trump's role, and fragile peace prospects, but tones varied by network: CNN focused on humanitarian angles and risks, MSNBC on diplomatic intricacies and Palestinian impacts, and Fox News on American leadership and security gains.
📺CNN Coverage
CNN's marathon broadcast, anchored by Anderson Cooper and Kaitlan Collins, centered on live feeds from Tel Aviv's Hostage Square and Gaza border crossings, with on-the-ground reporting from Nic Robertson in Jerusalem and Clarissa Ward in Cairo. Key segments included:
- Live Updates and Profiles: Continuous tickers profiled hostages like twin brothers Ziv and Gali Berman (abducted from Kibbutz Kfar-Aza) and Alon Ohel (taken from the Nova festival), highlighting their 700+ days in captivity. A special at 10 p.m. ET featured psychologist Dr. Orna Guralnik discussing potential PTSD and survivor's guilt.
- Interviews: Jonathan Dekel-Chen, father of a previously released hostage, joined Jessica Dean to praise the deal but warn of "psychological minefields" ahead. President Trump's comments on "hundreds of thousands cheering" were fact-checked against crowd estimates of 50,000-100,000.
- Critiques: Coverage noted Hamas's demands for high-profile terrorists like Marwan Barghouti, with analysts like Fareed Zakaria questioning if the deal truly dismantles Hamas infrastructure. A 11 p.m. panel debated UN aid shortfalls (only 28% funded), linking it to 19 civilian deaths from lingering strikes.CNN's tone was cautiously optimistic, stressing verification of hostage conditions via Red Cross transfers.
📺MSNBC Coverage
- Diplomatic Deep Dives: Rachel Maddow's 9 p.m. ET special dissected Trump's "nonconventional" negotiations, interviewing VP JD Vance (who appeared on NBC's Meet the Press earlier, confirming "any moment now" releases). Coverage highlighted Trump's Egypt-Israel itinerary and Vance's pledge for CENTCOM monitoring to prevent violations.
- Humanitarian Focus: Segments on Gazan returns to ruined homes (e.g., Khan Younis rubble) featured UN reports on famine risks, with Velshi interviewing aid workers on fuel/medical inflows. Family stories, like Shiri Bibas's ongoing wait for her sons Ariel and Kfir, evoked tears during live reunions.
- Skepticism: Panels with Malcolm Nance warned the deal might be a "pause" before Hamas rearmament, citing Qatar-based Hamas funding. MSNBC emphasized Palestinian prisoner releases (e.g., at Nasser Hospital) and potential for phase two (full IDF withdrawal).The network's progressive lens amplified calls for accountability, with lower emphasis on celebrations.
📺Fox News Coverage
- Victory Narrative: Baier hailed the deal as Trump's "masterstroke," replaying his White House remarks on ending the "forever war." An exclusive with Israeli FM Gideon Saar (from October 9) reiterated "immediate ceasefire" post-approval, tying it to Hamas's surrender.
- Security Angle: Sean Hannity's 9 p.m. segment focused on IDF tunnel destructions and expert warnings (e.g., from ICE's Mike Vickers) that Hamas leaders in Qatar must be targeted next. Live from Jaffa, reporters covered family hugs during confirmations, like for soldier Nimrod Cohen.
- Interviews: VP Vance praised Trump's "decisive actions" in a clip, while contributors like Harley Lippman analyzed Hamas's "goals achieved" (prisoner swaps, global attention). Fox noted 67,000 Palestinian deaths but framed the war's end as a win against terrorism.