Premier Giorgia Meloni expressed satisfaction on Monday after Hamas released the Israeli hostages it was holding who are still alive as part of US President Donald Trump’s peace plan for Gaza.

“Today is a historic day,” Meloni said in a post on X.

“The hostages have been released: an extraordinary result, the fruit of the determination of international diplomacy and the implementation of the first part of the Peace Plan of American President Donald Trump.

“Now a new phase opens: consolidating the ceasefire and giving full implementation to the agreement to build a future of peace and lasting stability.

“Italy will continue to support this path with conviction, in the awareness that peace is built with deeds, not with words”.

Meloni will attend a peace summit being held in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm El-Sheikh later on Monday to mark the Gaza ceasefire and the release of the hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.

Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi will co-host the summit, which over 20 international leaders are set to attend.