Israel and Hamas have taken a significant step in the ceasefire agreement for the Gaza war by releasing hostages and prisoners.

Hamas freed the 20 hostages and Israel released some 2,000 Palestinian prisoners as part of a cease-fire.

The 20 surviving hostages were released “after 738 agonizing days in captivity,” the Hostages and Missing Families Forum said in a statement.

The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas has brought cautious calm to the region as aid begins to flow into the Gaza Strip.

U.S. President Donald Trump, whose administration brokered the deal, made a whirlwind visit to the region, first to Israel where he addressed the parliament to repeated applause. He landed Monday afternoon in Egypt for the “Summit of Peace” where world leaders are to discuss the ceasefire plan.

The most promising effort yet to end the war in Gaza was bolstered as senior figures from Israel and the United States joined the negotiations on Wednesday after Hamas handed over its lists of hostages and Palestinian prisoners to be freed in a swap.

Early on Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led fighters launched a multipronged terrorist attack on Israel. The resulting war in Gaza has created a humanitarian catastrophe.

Israelis are mourning the dead and fearing for the remaining hostages as they mark two years since Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack.