In a historic breakthrough for the Middle East, U.S. President Donald Trump and several world leaders signed a Gaza ceasefire agreement during a high-level summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. The announcement came just hours after Hamas released the last 20 living Israeli hostages along with four coffins containing the remains of others.

As part of the U.S.-brokered deal, Israel released more than 1,900 Palestinian prisoners, including 250 prisoners and about 1,700 detainees from Gaza held without charge. Emotional scenes unfolded as freed hostages were reunited with their families in Israeli hospitals, and Palestinian prisoners returned to their homes in the West Bank and Gaza to cheering crowds.

Earlier in the day, Trump delivered a speech at the Israeli Knesset in Jerusalem, where he hailed “a historic dawn of a new Middle East.” He urged leaders to “leave behind old disputes and bitter hatreds” and “declare that our future will not be governed by the struggles of the past.”

The summit brought together representatives from nearly three dozen countries across Europe and the Middle East. Although Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declined to attend, citing a Jewish holiday, the final declaration was signed by key leaders including Abdel Fattah el-Sissi, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

Trump said the deal lays the foundation for rebuilding Gaza and achieving lasting regional peace. He even extended a “hand of friendship” to Iran — a country the U.S. clashed with earlier this year — signaling a willingness to turn the page.

The war between Israel and Hamas began on October 7, 2023, with a large-scale militant attack, sparking two years of bloodshed. Today’s ceasefire marks the first concrete step toward a sustainable peace in the region.

Trump concluded his lightning visit to Egypt and Israel with a call to “turn military victories into victories of peace and prosperity for the entire Middle East.”

Additional Latest Details

• The 20 living hostages freed are being transferred to Israeli hospitals for medical assessments and treatment. 
• Israel released around 250 life-sentence inmates and approximately 1,700 detainees from Gaza, many of whom were held without formal charges. 
• Four coffins containing the remains of deceased hostages have been handed over. A military protocol will be conducted before they cross into Israel, including flag draping and recitation of a Psalm. 
• From Gaza, hundreds of thousands of internally displaced people are returning north, though many return to destroyed homes and infrastructure. 
• The Rafah crossing (Egypt–Gaza border) has been reopened, allowing convoys of humanitarian aid—food, medical supplies, essentials—into Gaza. 
• Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi described Trump’s peace proposal as a “last chance” for durable peace. AP News+1
• Several wealthy nations have already pledged to finance Gaza’s reconstruction. Trump affirmed that “a lot of money” would flow to rebuild critical infrastructure, housing, and services. 
• Roughly 30 countries participated in the Sharm el-Sheikh summit. 
• Although Netanyahu declined to attend on religious grounds, his cabinet approved the ceasefire plan and authorized military withdrawals.
• The Gaza peace plan involves phased Israeli troop withdrawals, entry of humanitarian aid, hostages’ release in timed windows, and creation of an international oversight force. 
• Approximately 200 U.S. personnel are expected to be deployed to a joint monitoring center to oversee the truce. 
• Despite the breakthrough, internal strife among Hamas factions in Gaza persists, and the future governance of the territory remains unresolved.