Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
In a dramatic turn in the long-running Israeli-Palestinian conflict, all remaining living Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza have been freed, marking a milestone in the U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement. The development comes as U.S. President Donald Trump arrived in Jerusalem to address the Israeli Knesset and prepare for a landmark peace summit in Sharm el-Sheikh alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The final group of 13 hostages crossed back into Israel on Monday under heavy security, following the earlier release of a group of seven. The hostages had been held for 738 days in Hamas captivity following the militant group’s surprise attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. Their release has brought waves of relief across Israel and been hailed as the first major success of the new ceasefire deal brokered by Washington.
“This is the historic dawn of a new Middle East,” President Trump is expected to say in a speech to the Knesset later today. “After so many years of unceasing war and endless danger, today, 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 was greeted at Ben Gurion International Airport by Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog. He later signed the Knesset guestbook, calling it “a great and beautiful day, a new beginning,” as newly freed hostages were being reunited with their families in military bases near the Gaza border.
A Massive Prisoner Swap and Signs of Change
As part of the first phase of the ceasefire deal, Israel has also begun releasing Palestinian prisoners. On Monday, 250 Palestinian inmates serving life sentences were freed. Hundreds more are expected to follow, including over 1,700 Palestinians detained since the outbreak of war two years ago.
In the occupied West Bank, large crowds gathered to welcome the returning prisoners, many of whom were greeted with emotional embraces by family members. Palestinian security forces and medical personnel were present to ensure order and attend to any health concerns following long detentions.
The prisoner releases have brought cautious hope to both sides, despite the deep scars left by two years of violence.
Trump to Address Knesset as Delegation Arrives in Force
A large U.S. delegation, including senior members of Trump’s administration, gathered inside the Knesset for the president’s speech. Among those in attendance were Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine.
Trump’s daughter Ivanka Trump, who arrived with her husband Jared Kushner credited with helping to shape the ceasefire deal received warm applause from lawmakers and guests in the chamber.
In his address, Trump is expected to frame the moment as a historic victory for diplomacy and a turning point in regional politics.
“Now, it is time to translate these victories against terrorists on the battlefield into the ultimate prize of peace and prosperity for the entire Middle East,” Trump is set to say, according to prepared remarks shared by the White House.
He will also argue that decades of extremism, anti-Semitism, and militancy have “backfired completely and totally,” and urge Palestinians to shift focus toward rebuilding civil society and creating long-term economic opportunity.
Netanyahu to Join Trump at Sharm el-Sheikh Summit
Following the speech, both Trump and Netanyahu will travel to Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, to attend a multinational summit on Gaza’s future and the broader Middle East peace process.
The summit, convened by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, will bring together more than 20 world leaders. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is also expected to attend, in a rare show of political convergence.
According to the Egyptian presidency, the summit aims to “reinforce the Gaza ceasefire agreement and affirm regional commitment to rebuilding and reconciliation.”
Trump and Netanyahu personally initiated a phone call with President Sisi on Sunday night to confirm the Israeli prime minister’s participation, a U.S. official said. Netanyahu’s office has not formally commented on his attendance, though travel plans appear to be in motion.
Trump is expected to receive an enthusiastic reception in Egypt as well. Billboards bearing his image have gone up across Sharm el-Sheikh, while Egyptian media has praised his role in ending hostilities and initiating prisoner releases.
“No More War”: A Nation Breathes
Back in Israel, images of emotional reunions between hostages and their families have flooded news broadcasts and social media. In Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square, tens of thousands gathered waving Israeli and American flags, celebrating the moment many feared would never come.
Einav Zangauker, the mother of Matan Zangauker one of the freed hostages was seen speaking to her son via video call just before his return. “You’re coming home. All of you are coming home. There’s no more war,” she said.
Defense Minister Israel Katz praised the safe return of the hostages and called it a “testament to the resilience and determination of the Israeli people.”
International leaders echoed the sentiment. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called the agreement “the first, crucial phase in ending the war in the Middle East,” and pledged additional UK humanitarian aid for Gaza along with support for long-term reconstruction.
A Fragile Path Forward
Despite the outpouring of hope, officials on all sides acknowledge that the road ahead is fraught with political and logistical challenges. While the ceasefire has held in recent days, any misstep could quickly unravel the fragile calm.
Still, for the first time in years, leaders are speaking in the language of peace, not war.
“This is a moment for all of us to look ahead,” Netanyahu said in a national address. “A path of healing, a path of building and I hope, a path of unity.”
For many Israelis and Palestinians, that path begins today.
