Italian
Israel and Hamas Take Major Step Toward Cementing Fragile Gaza Truce with Hostage-Prisoner Exchange
JERUSALEM — In a carefully coordinated operation on Monday, Hamas released the last 20 surviving Israeli hostages held in Gaza, while Israel freed nearly 2,000 Palestinian detainees — a rare moment of shared relief after years of violence and loss. The exchange, part of a U.S.-brokered peace initiative, sparked emotional scenes and celebrations on both sides of the border.
In Tel Aviv, tens of thousands gathered in Hostages Square to watch the return of the freed captives, flown in by military helicopter. A roar of joy erupted as the aircraft passed overhead, while massive screens broadcast live footage of tearful family reunions. The Israeli military also confirmed that the bodies of four hostages who died in captivity were returned via the Red Cross.
At the same time, in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis, thousands of Palestinians poured into the streets to welcome around 1,700 prisoners released by Israel. Celebrations erupted as well in Ramallah, in the West Bank, where 88 inmates serving life sentences were received. Another 160 freed detainees were transferred to Egypt.
Later in the day, over 20 world leaders gathered in Egypt for a high-level summit co-chaired by former U.S. President Donald Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. The goal: to turn the fragile ceasefire into a lasting peace.
“We finally have peace in the Middle East,” Trump declared, standing alongside leaders from Qatar, Turkey, and Egypt. Together, they signed a joint declaration aimed at building a permanent peace framework. Notably, representatives from both Israel and Hamas were absent from the signing — a sign of the deal’s precarious footing.
Earlier, Trump addressed the Israeli Knesset, calling on lawmakers to seize what he described as a “historic opportunity for reconciliation.”
“This long nightmare for Israelis and Palestinians is finally over,” he said.
Despite the celebratory tone of the day, fundamental questions remain unresolved chiefly, who will govern Gaza, and whether Hamas is willing to disarm. The current truce, which has so far held, comes after two years of intense Israeli military operations that claimed nearly 68,000 lives in Gaza, following Hamas’s deadly October 7, 2023 attack that killed 1,200 Israelis and led to the abduction of 250 hostages.
The United Nations has warned that humanitarian conditions in Gaza remain dire. While aid is beginning to arrive, it is still far from adequate.
“Gaza urgently needs life-saving assistance,” said the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), announcing that new convoys are expected to enter in the coming days.
The last ceasefire, signed in early 2024, collapsed within two months. However, Trump expressed confidence that his 20-point plan for peace and Gaza reconstruction could “take root and endure.”
For both Israelis and Palestinians, Monday marked a day of hope — a rare pause in a long cycle of suffering.
