In a pivotal moment for the Middle East, Hamas on Monday released the final 20 living Israeli hostages held in Gaza, while Israel freed nearly 2,000 Palestinian detainees and prisoners under a U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement. The exchange marked the formal conclusion of a two-year war that has reshaped regional dynamics and left tens of thousands dead.
U.S. President Donald Trump, who played a central role in mediating the deal alongside Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, declared the conflict over in an address to the Israeli Knesset. โThe skies are calm, the guns are silent, the sirens are still and the sun rises on a Holy Land that is finally at peace,โ Trump said, calling the agreement a โlong-awaited endโ to a nightmare for both Israelis and Palestinians.
The release of hostages and prisoners triggered scenes of emotional relief across both sides. In Tel Avivโs Hostage Square, thousands gathered to celebrate the return of the Israeli captives, many of whom had been held since the Hamas-led attacks of October 7, 2023. In Gaza, crowds assembled at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis to welcome home Palestinian detainees, some of whom had spent years in Israeli custody.
Later on Monday, Trump convened a summit in Sharm el-Sheikh with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and over 20 world leaders to discuss Gazaโs future. Although neither Israel nor Hamas attended, the summit produced a joint declaration pledging support for reconstruction, governance reform, and long-term peace efforts. โNow the rebuilding begins,โ Trump said, describing the agreement as potentially โthe greatest deal of them all.โ
Challenges Ahead
Despite the breakthrough, significant hurdles remain. The ceasefire halted Israelโs intense military campaign in Gaza City, which had killed scores daily and left vast areas in ruins. Gaza health authorities report over 68,000 Palestinian deaths since the war began.
Israel is still working to recover the remains of 26 hostages believed dead and locate two others whose fates remain unknown. Four coffins containing the remains of deceased hostages were returned on Monday, with identification ongoing.
Humanitarian needs in Gaza are dire. U.N. aid chief Tom Fletcher stressed the urgency of delivering shelter, fuel, food, and medicine to hundreds of thousands facing famine and displacement.
Governance and security in Gaza remain unresolved. Hamas has launched a crackdown on rival factions, reportedly killing 32 members of a competing group. Trump acknowledged that Hamas had been given temporary approval to maintain order, though his broader plan envisions a demilitarized Gaza administered by a Palestinian committee under international supervision.
Tensions persist in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, where settlement expansion continues to inflame Palestinian grievances. Meanwhile, regional instability lingers, with Israel recently conducting strikes against Iranian-linked targets in Lebanon and Yemen.
A Broader Vision
Trump has framed the Gaza ceasefire as a stepping stone toward a wider Middle East peace. He hinted at expanding the Abraham Accords and even floated the possibility of a future peace agreement between Israel and Iran. โWouldnโt it be nice?โ he said during his Knesset address.
