Trump Announces End to Gaza War
The last living Israeli hostages held in Gaza were freed on Monday under a ceasefire deal that also saw Israel release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, marking what US President Donald Trump declared the official end of the two-year war that has shaken the Middle East.
Hours later, Trump gathered Muslim and European leaders in Egypt to discuss Gaza’s post-war future and prospects for regional peace. Neither Israel nor Hamas attended the meeting, as both sides have yet to agree on the next steps.
The Israeli military confirmed that all 20 surviving hostages had been handed over by the Red Cross, sparking emotional celebrations at «Hostage Square» in Tel Aviv. In Gaza, thousands of Palestinians greeted the return of nearly 2,000 detainees released under the agreement, with scenes of relief and jubilation outside hospitals and community centres.
Trump Hails «A Holy Land Finally at Peace»
Addressing Israel’s parliament, the Knesset , Trump said the guns had fallen silent at last.
«The skies are calm, the sirens are still, and the sun rises on a Holy Land that is finally at peace,» he said, declaring that a «long nightmare» had ended for both Israelis and Palestinians.
The ceasefire, brokered by the United States, Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, represents the first stage of a broader plan involving hostage exchanges and Israeli withdrawals.
Later that day, Trump joined President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi at the Sharm el-Sheikh summit, attended by more than 20 world leaders. Together with the leaders of Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, Trump signed a joint declaration pledging to «work collectively to sustain this legacy.»
Egypt’s presidency said talks focused on Gaza’s reconstruction, governance, and security, while Trump promised that «now the rebuilding begins,» calling the Gaza agreement «the greatest deal of them all.»
Although Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates skipped the summit, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas attended and held extended talks with Trump. Abbas reaffirmed his desire for the Authority to play a key role in governing Gaza, a proposal strongly opposed by Israel.
Challenges Remain
The 20 Israelis released were the last surviving hostages from the 251 people abducted during Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attacks, which killed 1,200 Israelis and triggered the war.
The truce halted Israel’s devastating assault on Gaza City, which Gaza health authorities say killed 68,000 people and reduced much of the enclave to rubble. Thousands of Palestinians have since returned to what remains of their homes.
Yet, as diplomats hailed the ceasefire, daunting obstacles remain. Israel still seeks the remains of 26 hostages believed dead, while two others remain missing. Hamas said the process could take time, with many burial sites destroyed or unknown.
Humanitarian needs in Gaza remain acute. UN aid chief Tom Fletcher warned of looming famine, urging an immediate surge of food, fuel, and medicine into the enclave.
Meanwhile, crucial political questions, how Gaza will be governed, policed, and rebuilt, remain unresolved. Hamas has yet to agree to Israel’s demand to disarm, and gunmen in Gaza City have already carried out security crackdowns against rival factions, reportedly killing 32 people.
Shifting Middle East Landscape
The war has reshaped the regional order, sparking Israeli offensives against Iran, Hezbollah, and the Houthis. Trump suggested the Gaza ceasefire could pave the way for broader Middle East peace, even raising the prospect of a future deal between Israel and Iran.
«Wouldn’t it be nice?» Trump asked the Knesset, adding that more countries were set to join the Abraham Accords.
Joy and Relief on Both Sides
In Tel Aviv, the release of hostages brought scenes of unrestrained emotion. Some waved Israeli flags from hospital vans, others formed hearts with their hands as cheering crowds wept with relief.
«I am so full of happiness, I didn’t sleep all night,» said Viki Cohen, whose son Nimrod was among the freed.
Across Gaza, thousands celebrated the homecoming of Palestinian prisoners, some waving flags and others holding photographs of loved ones.
«I’m happy for our sons who are freed, but the pain remains for all who died and for the destruction of Gaza,» said Um Ahmed, a resident of Khan Younis.
Despite the joy, the presence of armed Hamas fighters at prisoner release sites highlighted the fragility of peace and the difficult path toward Gaza’s long-term stability.
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