JERUSALEM (Chatnewstv.com) — Hamas released the last 20 of its living hostages on Monday as Israel freed more than 1,900 Palestinian prisoners, cementing a breakthrough ceasefire that brings an end to two years of devastating war in the Gaza Strip.
The exchange, a cornerstone of a U.S.-proposed deal, unfolded as U.S. President Donald Trump visited the region to oversee the accord’s implementation and discuss postwar plans with regional leaders. In a speech to the Israeli Knesset, Trump’s presence was hailed by Israeli officials as pivotal to securing the agreement.
The Israeli military confirmed the return of the final 20 hostages. Simultaneously, the Hamas-run Prisoners Office reported that buses carrying freed Palestinian prisoners were arriving in the West Bank city of Ramallah and into the Gaza Strip.
The ceasefire has garnered widespread international support. The U.S. and Egyptian presidents are set to co-chair a “Summit for Peace” aimed at solidifying the war’s end. Leaders from Turkey, Jordan, Britain, Germany, France, Italy, and representatives from the United Nations and the European Union are expected to attend.
In recognition of his efforts, Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s office announced that Trump would be awarded the Israeli Presidential Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest civilian honor, for his work to bring the hostages home.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu lauded the American leader’s role, stating in a speech, “I’ve never seen anyone move the world so quickly, so decisively, so resolutely, as our friend Donald J Trump.”
The truce allows for a massive surge of humanitarian aid into the famine-stricken Gaza Strip. The two-year conflict has left the coastal enclave devastated, with hundreds of thousands of people homeless and its infrastructure in ruins.
The war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants stormed southern Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people and taking 250 others hostage. In the ensuing Israeli military offensive, more than 67,000 Palestinians were killed, according to figures from the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry. The United Nations and many independent experts consider the ministry’s data to be the most reliable available estimate of casualties.
While the exchange marks a significant step toward peace, major questions remain about the future governance of Gaza and the long-term role of Hamas in the region.
