Trump Brokers Historic Gaza Ceasefire as Israeli Hostages Set to Return After Two-Year Ordeal

Around 1,200 people have perished in Israel with 251 individuals taken hostage.

Jerusalem/Cairo:

US President Donald Trump will be welcomed as a hero in Israel's parliament on Monday as the delicate Gaza ceasefire he helped negotiate enters its fourth day. The anticipated release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners represents initial steps in a conflict that has long resisted resolution.

Trump's address to the Knesset follows two years of conflict ignited by Hamas's attack on October 7, 2023, which resulted in approximately 1,200 Israeli deaths and 251 hostages taken. Since then, Israeli military operations have devastated Gaza, with Palestinian health officials reporting over 67,000 deaths.

"The war is over," Trump declared to reporters on Air Force One while departing Washington for Israel. When questioned about the region's future, he stated: "I think it's going to normalize."

The UN reported that humanitarian assistance was increasing, with cooking gas entering Gaza for the first time since March, alongside expanded food and medical supplies.

Despite the truce and prisoner exchanges offering a ray of hope, the extensive casualties, destruction, and trauma highlight how distant lasting peace remains, regardless of Trump's optimism. Progress now depends on international commitments potentially addressed at a summit later Monday in Egypt's Sharm el-Sheikh resort, with more than 20 world leaders led by Trump.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will attend the Egypt summit, according to an Axios reporter citing a senior Palestinian official. Israeli government spokesperson Shosh Bedrosian confirmed no Israeli officials would participate.

Bedrosian indicated Israel expected remaining hostages to begin returning early Monday, with 20 living hostages to be released together, followed by the remains of 28 deceased hostages.

She noted that 1,700 Palestinians detained since October 7, 2023, along with 22 minors and remains of 360 militants, would only be released after Israeli hostages were safely returned.

Palestinians returning to northern Gaza described overwhelming destruction. "We couldn't believe the devastation," said Rami Mohammad-Ali, 37, who walked 15 kilometers from Deir Al Balah to Gaza City with his son. "We are joyful to return, but bitter about the destruction," he added, describing human remains scattered along roads.

Crowds gathered at Tel Aviv's Hostages Square late Saturday cheered and displayed placards praising Trump during a speech by his special envoy Steve Witkoff, but loudly booed when Witkoff attempted to thank Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for his role in the ceasefire efforts.

Trump will become only the fourth US president addressing the Knesset, following Jimmy Carter (1979), Bill Clinton (1994), and George W. Bush (2008).

In his invitation letter, Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana wrote: "The people of Israel regard you as the greatest friend and ally of the Jewish nation in modern history."

Netanyahu's Israeli critics, including hostages' families, accuse him of deliberately extending the conflict to appease his far-right coalition partners whose support is vital to his political survival. The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu last year for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity, which Israel denies.

"Tomorrow is the beginning of a new path. A path of building, a path of healing, and I hope – a path of uniting hearts," Netanyahu stated in a televised address Sunday.

The US, alongside Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, mediated what's described as a first-phase agreement between Israel and Hamas. The next phase of Trump's plan establishes an international body – a "Board of Peace" led by Trump and including former British Prime Minister Tony Blair – to participate in Gaza's post-war governance.

Numerous obstacles remain. Further steps in Trump's 20-point plan await agreement, including Gaza's future governance and Hamas's status, as the group rejects Israel's disarmament demands.

The Hamas-run Interior Ministry announced plans to deploy security forces in areas where Israeli troops withdrew. It remains unclear whether armed militants would return in significant numbers, which Israel would view as provocation.

Sources close to Hamas claimed Israel had reversed course on a previously agreed list that included senior militant leaders, raising concerns about the fragile deal collapsing.

Israel's Justice Ministry released names of 250 Palestinians convicted of murder and serious crimes scheduled for release. The list excluded prominent figures such as senior Hamas commanders, Marwan Barghouti, and Ahmed Saadat – key Hamas demands. Discussions regarding the final list continued, according to the Hamas prisoners information office.

Defense Minister Israel Katz warned that once hostages returned, military operations would proceed to destroy Hamas's underground tunnel network in Gaza.

Palestinian analyst Akram Attallah told Reuters in Cairo that Trump's plan favored Israel, allowing it to dictate terms and shift blame. "If they choose to backtrack, they can find excuses and blame Hamas. Meanwhile, Hamas, the weaker party, loses all leverage once it hands over the hostages," Attallah said.