Hamas Releases Israeli Hostages as Trump Declares Gaza War Over

Hamas has released the last 20 living Israeli hostages, marking a significant step in the ceasefire agreement aimed at ending the two-year conflict in Gaza. The hostages were handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross inside Gaza and subsequently transferred to Israeli military custody. In exchange, Israel has begun releasing nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees, many of whom were greeted by cheering crowds upon their return to Gaza and the West Bank.

President Donald Trump, addressing the Israeli Knesset, declared the Gaza war over and emphasized the potential for a new era in the Middle East. He stated,

"This is the historic dawn of a new Middle East. Generations from now, this will be remembered as the moment that everything began to change, and change very much for the better."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Trump's efforts, calling him "the greatest friend that the State of Israel has ever had in the White House."

The ceasefire, which took effect on Friday, has held thus far, bringing a pause to the deadliest fighting between Israelis and Palestinians. The agreement also stipulates that Hamas will hand over the bodies of 28 deceased hostages, though the group has indicated challenges in locating all of them due to the destruction in Gaza.

Following his visit to Israel, President Trump is scheduled to attend a summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, co-chaired with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi. The summit aims to solidify the ceasefire and discuss Gaza's future governance and reconstruction. Leaders from over 20 nations are expected to participate, though initial invitations did not include Israeli and Hamas representatives. Egypt extended a last-minute invitation to Netanyahu, who declined due to a Jewish holiday.

While the ceasefire has initiated a period of calm, several critical issues remain unresolved. Israeli troops have begun withdrawing from parts of Gaza but still control significant areas, with no clear timetable for complete withdrawal. The agreement calls for Hamas to disarm and abstain from future governance in Gaza, a point the group has not publicly agreed to. Additionally, the formation of an interim Palestinian technocratic government to administer Gaza is yet to be finalized.