In a moment that could reshape the course of Middle Eastern history, Hamas and Israel are preparing for a major hostage-prisoner exchange as part of a U.S.-brokered peace deal, with both sides signaling cautious optimism.
The agreement — championed by U.S. President Donald Trump — aims to mark an official end to one of the most devastating conflicts in the region’s recent history. President Trump landed in Israel today as part of a lightning diplomatic visit that also includes Egypt, celebrating his administration’s central role in negotiating the ceasefire and release terms.
According to Israeli officials, Hamas will release all surviving hostages — believed to be 20 individuals — to the Red Cross early Monday morning. In return, Israel is expected to free around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, including 250 security detainees and 1,700 people captured during the war in Gaza.
Speaking aboard Air Force One, President Trump appeared confident that this fragile peace could hold:
“I think it’s going to hold. I think people are tired of it. It’s been centuries,” he said. “The war is over. Okay? You understand that?”
Once in Jerusalem, Trump will meet with families of those who were abducted during Hamas’s 2023 cross-border attack, which claimed more than 1,200 Israeli lives, mostly civilians. He is also expected to address the Israeli parliament, outlining a 20-point peace plan that includes a multinational stabilization force in Gaza and a U.S.-led command centre to oversee reconstruction.
Negotiations, however, remain tense. Hamas sources confirmed that they are pushing for the release of seven senior Palestinian leaders, a point of contention Israel has so far resisted. Despite ongoing talks, the group said all preparations for releasing hostages — both living and deceased — have been completed.
After his visit to Israel, Trump will travel to Cairo, where he and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi will co-host a peace summit involving over 20 world leaders. The gathering aims to build global consensus for the roadmap’s next phases — including disarmament, governance, and rebuilding Gaza.
According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, the conflict has claimed more than 67,800 lives, with over half being women and children. The United Nations has described the figures as credible and deeply alarming, underscoring the human cost of the conflict.
While political analysts remain divided over the long-term sustainability of this peace plan, one thing is clear — the world is watching. Whether this marks a true turning point or another fragile truce will depend on what happens next.
In moments like these, humanity must rise above borders, beliefs, and bitterness. Every life saved is a victory — not for one side, but for all. Peace is not just a deal signed on paper; it’s a promise to future generations that war can end if the will to end it is stronger than the reasons to continue it.
