Fact check: Did Biden secure release of more hostages from Hamas than Trump?

WASHINGTON, DC: Hamas released all 20 living Israeli hostages under the first phase of a US-brokered ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas that began on October 10. 

Recently, a rumor circulated online claiming that former President Joe Biden secured the release of roughly 140 hostages during the Israel-Hamas war, a total more than that of President Donald Trump. But is there any truth to this? Let us find out below.

Claim: Joe Biden secured release of more hostages from Gaza than Trump

In October 2025, a rumor circulated online claiming that Joe Biden had secured the release of approximately 140 hostages during his presidency, surpassing the number secured by Trump.

Political strategist Chris D Jackson took to X and wrote, "I don't know who needs to hear this, but it was President @JoeBiden who secured the release of 140 hostages in Gaza. Trump? Just 28. That means Biden was responsible for 83% of all the hostages freed — yet you'd never know it from the way the media talks."

Meanwhile, similar claims also circulated on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Bluesky, and Reddit.

A Facebook post read, "135 Hamas hostages released under Biden and 20 under Trump. You do the math."

True: Hamas released 138 hostages under deal brokered by Biden

The claims made in the online rumors are true, as Hamas released a total of 138 hostages under a deal brokered by the Biden administration.

The Biden administration brokered two ceasefire and hostage-exchange deals between Israel and Hamas, one in November 2023 and one in January 2025, Snopes reported.

Moreover, Hamas released 105 hostages in the November 2023 deal and 33 in the January 2025 deal, taking the total to 138.

Meanwhile, the Trump administration also participated in the January 2025 deal. At the time of writing this story, President Trump's October 2025 ceasefire plan had resulted in Hamas releasing 33 hostages.

Interestingly, the Biden-era November 2023 ceasefire, which allowed for the release of 105 hostages, was the first such deal of the Israel-Hamas war.

The plan initially secured the release of 50 hostages in exchange for 150 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli prisons across four days of a ceasefire. 

However, it resulted in more than twice that number of hostage releases.

To sum things up, Hamas took 251 hostages during the October 7, 2023, attack. As of now, they have released 171 hostages, alive and dead, in deals proposed or brokered by both Biden and Trump.

Trump warns of a 'furious and brutal end' to Hamas

Donald Trump issued a blunt warning on Tuesday, October 21, saying that many US partners in and around the Middle East had offered to send forces into Gaza to "straighten" out Hamas if the militant group violated the negotiated ceasefire with Israel.

The POTUS wrote in a Truth Social post, "Numerous of our NOW GREAT ALLIES in the Middle East, and areas surrounding the Middle East, have explicitly and strongly, with great enthusiasm, informed me that they would welcome the opportunity, at my request, to go into GAZA with a heavy force and 'straighten out Hamas' if Hamas continues to act badly, in violation of their agreement with us." 

Moreover, Trump wrote that he has asked the allies and Israel not to attack Hamas for the time being, as he wants Hamas to do 'what is right'.

"The love and spirit for the Middle East has not been seen like this in a thousand years! It is a beautiful thing to behold! I told these countries, and Israel, “NOT YET!” There is still hope that Hamas will do what is right," the president added.

He concluded, "I would like to thank all of those countries that called to help. Also, I would like to thank the great and powerful country of Indonesia, and its wonderful leader, for all of the help they have shown and given to the Middle East, and to the USA."