New Delhi, Oct. 18 -- Seven hundred and thirty-seven.

The number of days the last 20 surviving hostages spent in captivity before their release on 13 October, as part of the US President Donald Trump-brokered 20-point Gaza peace deal between Israel and Hamas.

In exchange, Israel freed 250 Palestinian prisoners and 1,718 detainees from Gaza, withdrew from certain parts of the war-ravaged city, and agreed to facilitate the arrival of much-needed humanitarian aid to the enclave's starving population.

Hamas had also promised to return the bodies of the dead hostages, but has managed to hand over only nine out of 28 since Monday.

The delay risks reigniting tensions, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu threatening to limit promis...