In a historic moment of fragile hope, Hamas and Israel are preparing for a large-scale hostage-prisoner exchange, following a U.S.-brokered peace initiative led by President Donald Trump, who has declared the long-standing conflict “over.”
Under the terms of the proposed roadmap, Hamas is expected to release all surviving hostages, while Israel will free around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, including hundreds detained during the Gaza war. According to Israeli officials, 20 living hostages are set to be handed over to the Red Cross early Monday morning, marking a potential turning point in one of the world’s most protracted conflicts.
Speaking aboard Air Force One, President Trump expressed confidence in the truce, saying, “I think people are tired of it. It’s been centuries. The war is over.” His remarks reflect the cautious optimism surrounding a ceasefire that many hope will finally bring relief to both sides.
Trump’s whirlwind visit includes meetings with the families of hostages, a speech before the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem, and later, a peace summit in Egypt co-hosted with President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. The summit, which gathers over 20 world leaders, aims to finalize support for the 20-point peace plan that seeks to reshape governance and stability in Gaza.
However, negotiations remain tense. Hamas insists on the inclusion of seven senior Palestinian leaders among those to be released—names Israel has long resisted. Still, sources indicate that preparations for the transfer of 47 hostages, both living and deceased, are complete, including the return of a soldier’s remains from a 2014 conflict.
Israel’s military campaign in Gaza has taken a devastating toll, with over 67,800 deaths, according to figures deemed credible by the United Nations—a tragic reminder of the cost of war.
Trump hinted at his ambition to personally visit Gaza in the future, suggesting that a new governing body under a U.S.-led multinational force could soon emerge to manage reconstruction and reconciliation.
As the world watches, weary families and divided nations hold their breath. This exchange, fragile as it may be, is more than a diplomatic transaction—it is a moment of human reckoning, a faint but vital glimmer of peace in a region scarred by generations of pain.
