Israel and Hamas took a crucial first step in their fragile ceasefire agreement on Monday by exchanging hostages and prisoners, offering cautious hope that the U.S.-brokered deal might eventually end the devastating two-year conflict in Gaza.
However, key unresolved issues — including the disarmament of Hamas, the future governance of Gaza, and the broader question of Palestinian statehood — highlight how delicate and temporary this truce remains. For now, it only halts what has become the deadliest conflict in the history of Israeli-Palestinian relations.
For many in Israel, the return of the final 20 surviving hostages was a moment of celebration and emotional closure. But with those hostages now home, the widespread pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to advance to the next stages of the agreement may begin to ease.
Alongside the hostages, the bodies of four deceased captives were also returned, with 24 more expected in the coming days. The ceasefire’s first phase also requires Israel to allow significantly more humanitarian aid into Gaza, including food and essential supplies.
Relief and Destruction on Both Sides
While Palestinians rejoiced over the release of prisoners from Israeli jails, daily life in Gaza remains dire. After months of heavy Israeli bombardment, the region is in ruins — infrastructure is collapsed, the economy has been destroyed, and countless homes lie in rubble. It's still unclear who will fund the years-long process of rebuilding.
Trump and Netanyahu Claim Progress
Former U.S. President Donald Trump visited the region to mark the ceasefire’s early progress. In an address to Israel’s parliament, he called on leaders to pursue long-term peace. He later joined other global leaders in Egypt to begin negotiating the more complex parts of the agreement.
Although Netanyahu didn’t attend the Egypt summit due to a Jewish holiday, he told Israeli lawmakers that the deal fulfills Israel’s military goals. He repeated that Israel’s conditions for ending the war — freeing all hostages and defeating Hamas — have been met. Still, critics argue he prolonged the war for political gain, something he denies.
The conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a surprise attack, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. Israel's military response has since killed over 67,000 people, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry. Though the ministry’s figures don’t distinguish between fighters and civilians, they are widely cited by the UN and global observers.
The war’s effects have spread throughout the Middle East, with clashes involving Hezbollah in Lebanon, Iranian-backed militants in Yemen, and even direct exchanges with Iran.
Emotional Reunions in Israel
Public celebrations broke out across Israel as citizens watched the return of hostages on large screens. Families reunited in deeply emotional scenes. One father, Zvika Mor, greeted his son with disbelief: “You are alive! Two arms and two legs.”
Another freed hostage, Bar Kupershtein, was embraced by his father, who stood up from his wheelchair for the first time in years to hug his son.
This time, Hamas conducted no formal ceremonies before releasing the captives. Instead, masked fighters allowed brief video calls between hostages and their families before their return home.
The hostage crisis had united much of Israeli society, with weekly protests pushing the government to prioritize their release. Many believed that Netanyahu’s dual goals — bringing hostages home and eliminating Hamas — were at odds with one another.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned that any delay in returning the bodies of deceased hostages would be seen as a breach of the ceasefire agreement.
Palestinians Celebrate Prisoner Release
In both the West Bank and Gaza, large crowds welcomed the release of over 1,900 Palestinian prisoners. Many flashed victory signs as they disembarked from buses headed for the West Bank, Gaza, or exile.
Among the released was Mahmoud Fayez, arrested during an Israeli raid on Gaza’s Shifa Hospital last year. “Praise be to God, who honored us with this joy,” he said.
The released prisoners included 250 individuals serving life sentences for attacks on Israelis and 1,700 people from Gaza detained during the war, most held without formal charges.
Prisoner issues remain highly emotional in Palestinian society, where many people have relatives who have been detained. Many Palestinians see them as freedom fighters.
Trump Urges Peace During Regional Visit
Speaking to the Israeli parliament, Trump emphasized that the military phase of the conflict had reached its end.
“Israel has won everything it can through military force,” he said. “Now is the time to turn those victories into peace and prosperity for the region.”
His speech was briefly interrupted by a protest from two Knesset members, one holding a sign saying “Recognize Palestine,” before being removed.
Later in Egypt, Trump joined Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi and leaders from over 20 nations to discuss Gaza’s future. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, who governs parts of the West Bank, also took part.
Major Hurdles Still Lie Ahead
Among the most contentious issues still unresolved is Israel’s demand that Hamas disarm — something Hamas has rejected, while also insisting that Israel fully withdraw its troops from Gaza.
Currently, Israeli forces have pulled out of much of Gaza City and Khan Younis, but they remain in Rafah, northern towns, and along Gaza’s border with Israel.
The question of who will govern Gaza after the war remains unclear. Under the U.S.-backed proposal, an international body would oversee governance, with Palestinian technocrats managing daily operations. Hamas insists that only Palestinians should determine Gaza’s political future.
The plan envisions a possible future role for the Palestinian Authority, although Netanyahu has opposed this idea. The plan also demands reforms to the Authority before it takes any responsibility in Gaza.
A key part of the proposal includes deploying an Arab-led international security force, supported by Palestinian police. Israeli forces would gradually withdraw as these units are deployed. Around 200 U.S. troops are already stationed in Israel to help monitor the ceasefire.
Finally, the deal leaves open the possibility of a future Palestinian state — a prospect long rejected by Netanyahu.
