Trump Leads Gaza Ceasefire Effort Amid Hostage Releases/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTIN/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ President Trump visited Israel and Egypt as Hamas released Israeli hostages and Israel freed Palestinian prisoners under a landmark U.S.-brokered ceasefire. Aid efforts are ramping up in Gaza amid severe humanitarian needs. Major diplomatic challenges remain, including Gaza’s governance and security terms.
Gaza Ceasefire & Hostage Deal: Quick Looks
- Hamas releases final 20 living Israeli hostages
- Israel frees nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners in return
- Trump visits Israel, receives red-carpet welcome at Knesset
- Heads to Egypt to co-host “Summit of Peace” with world leaders
- Ceasefire marks end of two-year Israel-Hamas war
- Gaza death toll surpasses 67,000, with widespread destruction
- Aid surge expected with 600 trucks/day entering Gaza
- Trump hails moment as turning point for the Middle East
- Issues unresolved: Hamas disarmament, Gaza governance, troop withdrawal
- Some Israeli remains still held by Hamas, delaying full closure
Trump Leads Gaza Ceasefire Effort Amid Hostage Releases
Deep Look
In a landmark moment for Middle East diplomacy, President Donald Trump visited Israel and Egypt on Monday as Hamas released 20 remaining living Israeli hostages, and Israel freed nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. The coordinated exchange is part of a broader U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement aimed at ending the devastating two-year war between Israel and Hamas.
The high-stakes day of diplomacy saw Trump deliver a rousing speech to Israeli lawmakers before flying to Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, to co-host the “Summit of Peace” with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, attended by over 20 world leaders.
Trump “the only one capable” of ending Israel-Hamas war, Sisi says
US President Donald Trump and Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi spoke briefly with the press after Trump landed in the Egyptian city of Sharm El Sheikh for a peace summit with a number of global leaders.
“It’s a great pleasure and an honor to have you with us here in the city of peace,” Sisi told Trump in front of reporters.
“I’ve been very confident that your excellency is the only one who’s capable of bringing this about and bring an end to this war,” he continued. “I even said that very precisely during my communication with your excellency that you are the only one who is able to bring about peace.”
Now, leaders need to ensure that the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas holds, that the bodies of the remaining deceased hostages in Gaza are returned to their families, and that humanitarian assistance is allowed into the Gaza Strip, Sisi said.
The next steps of the ceasefire plan also need to be worked on “very closely,” he added.
Egypt looks forward to Trump’s “support and your sponsorship with us in the conference for the reconstruction (of Gaza),” Sisi continued.
Witkoff: ‘We’re dug in’
Trump’s lead Middle East negotiator predicted a long presence by the U.S. in the region following the ceasefire deal.
“We’re dug in,” said Witkoff, as Trump met with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi in Sharm El-Sheikh. “We’ll be here quite a bit. That’s at the direction of the president.”
Witkoff also praised Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, saying: “Jared is remarkable to work with.”
“The minute we inked the deal, Jared and I were already working on the implementation side,” Witkoff added.
Hostages and Prisoners Released
Monday marked Day 738 since Hamas-led militants launched the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, which killed 1,200 people and resulted in 251 hostages. Since then, only 20 living hostages remained in captivity — all of whom were released and reunited with their families before being taken to Israeli hospitals.
Hamas released the hostages in two waves — first seven, then thirteen — as part of phase one of the ceasefire. Simultaneously, Israel released over 1,900 Palestinian prisoners, including those held without charge and others serving sentences for attacks or planned attacks on Israelis.
Among the released were Hamas and Fatah members, some deported to Egypt, others returned to Gaza or the West Bank. At least 154 Palestinians were expelled to Egypt per deal stipulations.
Hamas also committed to handing over four of the 28 sets of Israeli remains it holds. While those deliveries were expected Monday, Israeli officials say it’s unlikely the full number will be returned immediately. A ceasefire clause allows an international body to intervene if remains are not located within 72 hours.
Gaza Aid Surge Expected
With the ceasefire in place, humanitarian organizations are mobilizing to deliver desperately needed supplies into the Gaza Strip. On Sunday, 400 aid trucks from Egypt were prepped for delivery, though they must pass through Israeli inspections.
Under the agreement, the volume of aid is set to increase to 600 trucks per day, a critical move to stave off famine and health crises. According to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, Gaza City was already in famine, with the situation expected to worsen without immediate aid access and a sustained ceasefire.
Much of Gaza lies in ruins, and over 2 million residents are displaced, facing urgent needs for food, water, and shelter.
Trump’s Role and Regional Tour
Trump was greeted with red-carpet honors in Jerusalem by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Isaac Herzog, and senior aides including Melania Trump, Ivanka Trump, and Jared Kushner.
Addressing the Knesset, Trump was met with standing ovations and chants of his name. He called the ceasefire a historic opportunity for peace.
“Generations from now, this will be remembered as the moment that everything began to change,” Trump said.
“Now it is time to translate these victories into the ultimate prize of peace and prosperity for the entire Middle East.”
After the speech, Trump flew to Sharm el-Sheikh, escorted briefly by Egyptian fighter jets, to attend the summit alongside world leaders, where the focus is on Gaza’s postwar future.
What Remains Unresolved
Despite the breakthrough, the conflict is far from fully resolved. Key disagreements still stand in the way of lasting peace:
- Israel demands Hamas disarm completely
- Hamas seeks full Israeli troop withdrawal from Gaza
- The future governance of Gaza remains in question — currently controlled by Hamas for nearly two decades
Israeli officials have warned that military operations could resume if Hamas refuses to disarm or if ceasefire terms break down.
Trump has insisted the ceasefire reflects the region’s growing exhaustion with war, and that the U.S. military presence — including 200 troops helping monitor the truce — will support stability.
Human Cost of War
Gaza’s Health Ministry reports more than 67,600 Palestinians killed since the conflict began. While it does not differentiate between combatants and civilians, it states roughly half of those killed were women and children.
The ministry is part of Gaza’s Hamas-run government, but UN agencies and independent experts continue to cite its numbers as the most credible estimate of wartime casualties.
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