JERUSALEM/CAIRO/DOHA: Hamas freed the last 20 surviving Israeli hostages on Monday under a US-brokered ceasefire deal, marking a major step towards ending two years of devastating conflict in Gaza. US President Donald Trump hailed the development as the “historic dawn of a new Middle East.”
The Israeli military confirmed that all surviving hostages had been received after their transfer from Gaza by the International Committee of the Red Cross, sparking emotional scenes of cheering and weeping at Tel Aviv’s “Hostage Square.”
Meanwhile, Palestinian detainees freed by Israel under the accord arrived in the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank, many appearing frail and exhausted.
“The skies are calm, the guns are silent, and the sirens are still,” Trump was expected to tell the Israeli Knesset ahead of his visit to Egypt for a summit aimed at shaping a lasting peace framework for Gaza.
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Despite the celebratory tone, analysts warned that significant hurdles remain — both in securing Gaza’s stability and in addressing the broader Israeli-Palestinian conflict that has spanned generations.
Summit to shape Gaza’s post-war future
Monday’s summit in Sharm el-Sheikh follows the agreement concluded last week in the Egyptian resort, where leaders are set to discuss next steps under Trump’s 20-point peace blueprint.
More than 20 world leaders are attending the summit, which comes two years after the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack that killed 1,200 people and saw 251 hostages taken — the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust.
According to Gaza health officials, Israeli airstrikes and ground offensives since then have killed over 67,000 Palestinians and left much of the enclave in ruins, triggering a massive humanitarian crisis.
‘I have returned — the people of Israel live’
Photos released by the Israeli military showed six freed hostages standing and smiling as they met Israeli soldiers. One of them, Guy Gilboa-Dalal, wrote on a whiteboard while being flown from Gaza: *“I have returned — the people of Israel live.”*
“I am full of happiness. It’s hard to describe what I feel right now,” said Viki Cohen, mother of released hostage Nimrod Cohen, as she headed to the Reim military camp where reunions were taking place.
In Gaza, armed Hamas members gathered at Nasser Hospital to welcome home Palestinian prisoners. “I hope this is the end of the war. We’ve lost homes, friends, and our city,” said Emad Abu Joudat, 57, from Gaza City.
Challenges ahead
The agreement, mediated by the United States with Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, calls for the creation of an international “Board of Peace” led by Trump to oversee the next phase.
However, the future governance of Gaza and Hamas’ fate remain unresolved. Hamas’ continued visibility — including the presence of its armed fighters at hospitals — underscores Israel’s concerns about the group’s enduring control.
A Palestinian security source said Hamas gunmen killed 32 members of a “criminal gang” in Gaza City during a security crackdown after Israeli forces withdrew under the truce.
Trump, addressing the Knesset, said Hamas would disarm under the peace plan — a claim the group has previously rejected, insisting it would not give up weapons before statehood is achieved.
Israel’s continued military withdrawal and prospects for Palestinian statehood also remain contentious issues.
‘Sea of rubble’
The bodies of 26 hostages confirmed dead and two missing are expected to be returned, with a committee established to locate remains lost amid Gaza’s destruction.
Dozens of buses carrying nearly 2,000 Palestinian detainees released from Israeli prisons arrived in Gaza, including 250 prisoners convicted or accused of involvement in attacks.
Two years of war have left Gaza in ruins, with nearly its entire population of 2.2 million displaced. The conflict has also fuelled regional instability, drawing in Iran, Hezbollah, and Yemen’s Houthis.
UN aid chief Tom Fletcher said Israel had approved new emergency supply deliveries, while UNRWA called on Israel to allow unhindered humanitarian operations in the territory.