Hamas on Monday released the last living Israeli hostages held in Gaza, while Israel freed nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees, marking a historic ceasefire that U.S. President Donald Trump hailed as “the end of the Gaza war” and “a dawn of peace for the Holy Land.”
The final exchange, mediated by the United States, Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, brought to a close two years of devastating conflict that has claimed tens of thousands of lives and destabilized the broader Middle East.
Israel’s military confirmed it had received all 20 surviving hostages, among 251 seized in the Hamas-led assault of October 7, 2023, after their transfer from Gaza by the Red Cross.
In Tel Aviv’s “Hostage Square,” crowds erupted in emotional celebration as families embraced their loved ones.
In Gaza, thousands gathered outside Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, welcoming home freed detainees and prisoners.
“The skies are calm, the guns are silent, the sirens are still, and the sun rises on a Holy Land that is finally at peace,” Trump told Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, declaring the war over and calling it “a long nightmare” for both Israelis and Palestinians.
People gather at Nasser hospital to welcome freed Palestinian prisoners released by Israel as part of a hostages-prisoners swap and a ceasefire deal between Hamas and Israel, in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, October 13, 2025. REUTERS/Ramadan Abed
Hours later, Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi co-hosted more than 20 world leaders in the Egyptian resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh to cement the truce and discuss Gaza’s postwar future.
The leaders of Qatar and Turkey joined Trump in signing a joint declaration pledging to “implement and sustain this legacy.” Absent, however, were representatives from both Israel and Hamas, as well as leaders of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Egypt’s presidency said talks focused on Gaza’s governance, security, and reconstruction. “Now the rebuilding begins,” Trump said, describing the deal as potentially “the greatest of them all.”
Despite the celebrations, daunting obstacles remain. Israeli authorities continue efforts to recover the remains of 26 hostages believed dead, while two others remain unaccounted for.
The Israeli army said it had escorted four coffins containing the remains of deceased captives for identification.
In Gaza, humanitarian agencies are racing to deliver urgent aid to hundreds of thousands facing famine and disease. U.N. aid chief Tom Fletcher called for a “massive scale-up” of food, medicine, fuel, and shelter deliveries.
Governance and security in Gaza remain unresolved. Hamas gunmen launched a crackdown in Gaza City after Israel’s pullback, reportedly killing 32 members of a rival faction in an effort to assert control.
Trump acknowledged on his flight to Egypt that Hamas had been given “temporary approval” to maintain order in Gaza during the transition.
The war, which began after Hamas’s deadly attack on southern Israel, left over 68,000 Palestinians dead, according to Gaza health officials, and much of the territory in ruins.
Israel’s offensive also triggered wider regional violence, including a brief 12-day conflict with Iran and confrontations with Hezbollah in Lebanon and Houthi forces in Yemen.
Across Israel, scenes of joy mixed with tears as freed hostages waved to crowds, one forming a heart with his hands from a van window. “I am full of happiness. It’s hard to imagine how I feel this moment,” said Viki Cohen, whose son Nimrod was among those released.
In Gaza, families wept with joy as buses carrying released prisoners arrived. “I am happy our sons are being freed, but we still feel the pain of all who were killed and all the destruction,” said Um Ahmed, a resident of Khan Younis.
Israel’s release included 1,700 detainees captured during its Gaza operations and 250 prisoners convicted or accused of security offenses.
Trump, who has framed the ceasefire as a foundation for a broader Middle East peace, hinted at future diplomatic ambitions, including expanding the Abraham Accords and even a possible rapprochement between Israel and Iran. “Wouldn’t it be nice?” he told the Knesset.
For now, both Israelis and Palestinians are savoring a rare moment of calm, uncertain, but hopeful, after two years of relentless war.
Source: Reuters
Written By Rodney Mbua
