Jerusalem/Cairo/Doha, October 13, 2025: In a landmark development marking the end of two years of devastating war in Gaza, Hamas released the final 20 surviving Israeli hostages on Monday under a U.S.-brokered ceasefire deal, hailed by President Donald Trump as “a new beginning.”
The Israeli military confirmed that all hostages known to be alive had been handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and brought back to Israel. Scenes of emotional reunions unfolded at “Hostage Square” in Tel Aviv, where thousands of families and supporters cheered, hugged, and wept as news of the release spread.
Simultaneously, buses carrying Palestinian prisoners freed under the same accord arrived in Gaza, where crowds gathered to welcome them. According to an official involved in the operation, nearly 2,000 Palestinians are being released, including 250 prisoners convicted or suspected of involvement in deadly attacks.
“This is a great day. This is a new beginning,” President Trump declared during an address to the Israeli Knesset, where he received a hero’s welcome before departing for Egypt to attend the Sharm El-Sheikh Peace Summit.
Asked whether the two-year Gaza war was finally over, Trump replied simply: “Yes.”
The ceasefire marks the end of one of the bloodiest conflicts in modern Middle Eastern history. The war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a surprise cross-border attack that killed around 1,200 Israelis and resulted in 251 hostages being taken.
Israel’s subsequent air and ground offensives left over 67,000 Palestinians dead, according to Gaza’s health authorities, and much of the enclave in ruins. Nearly 2.2 million residents have been displaced, creating a humanitarian catastrophe that drew global outrage.
Sharm El-Sheikh Summit
Over 20 world leaders, including President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Mian Shehbaz Sharif and Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, are gathering in Egypt for the signing of the Gaza Peace Agreement, the centerpiece of Trump’s 20-point “Middle East Peace Plan.”
The accord envisions the creation of a “Board of Peace”, an international body led by Trump, to oversee reconstruction and future governance arrangements in Gaza. However, questions remain over who will govern Gaza, the disarmament of Hamas, and Israel’s phased withdrawal from the enclave.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to attend the summit in Egypt, amid ongoing debates within Israel over post-war policy and the possibility of Palestinian statehood — a proposal still opposed by many Israelis.
In Gaza, Hamas fighters were seen accompanying the release of Palestinian prisoners at Nasser Hospital, underlining the challenge of fully implementing disarmament provisions. A Palestinian security source said Hamas executed 32 individuals in Gaza City accused of belonging to a “gang” during a security crackdown following the ceasefire.
“I hope these images can be the end of this war,” said Emad Abu Joudat, a father of six from Gaza City. “We lost friends, relatives, our homes, our city.”
At Israel’s Reim military camp, relatives of freed hostages gathered waving Israeli flags entwined with yellow ribbons — symbols of remembrance and hope. “We can breathe again. Our Matan is home!” said the family of hostage Matan Angrest, thanking Trump for his mediation efforts.
In a related development, U.N. aid chief Tom Fletcher announced that Israel had approved the delivery of additional emergency supplies to Gaza. The U.N. Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) called on Israel to allow it to operate freely in the territory to address the immense humanitarian needs.
As the world’s attention turns to the Sharm El-Sheikh summit, hopes are cautiously rising that the peace agreement will finally end the cycle of violence that has reshaped the Middle East over the past two years — though many warn that lasting peace will depend on implementation and trust between long-warring sides.
