Hostages Freed as Trump Declares “The War Is Over” — A Fragile Peace in Israel and Gaza
TEL AVIV — Hope and heartbreak filled the air across Israel on Monday as the nation prepared to welcome home the last known living hostages from Gaza—after 737 days of living hell, nearly two years after their abduction in the devastating war with Hamas. The long-awaited exchange marks the first stage of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire that has brought both celebration and uncertainty to the region.
A Landmark Exchange
Under the agreement, 20 surviving Israeli hostages were set for release early Monday, while nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees held in Israel would be freed in return. Among those to be released are 250 serving life sentences for deadly attacks on Israelis and about 1,700 others detained without charge during the war.
Israeli officials said an international task force will work to locate and recover the remains of as many as 28 additional hostages still unaccounted for. Families of the missing have been told that any hostages not returned within 72 hours will be presumed deceased.
While Israel views the prisoners as terrorists, Palestinians regard them as freedom fighters resisting occupation. Israel has already warned residents in the West Bank against public celebrations following the releases.
Trump Arrives in the Region
U.S. President Donald Trump landed in Tel Aviv declaring, “The war is over.” He is scheduled to address Israel’s parliament, meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and visit families of the freed hostages. Vice President J.D. Vance confirmed Trump is also expected to meet several of the survivors in person.
Later Monday, Trump will travel to Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, to host a summit of more than 20 world leaders focused on Gaza’s future. The U.S.-led plan outlines an international administration for the territory, overseen by Palestinian technocrats and supported by an Arab-led security force trained by Egypt and Jordan. Around 200 U.S. troops are already in Israel to help monitor the ceasefire.
The proposal also hints at the long-disputed possibility of a future Palestinian state—a notion Netanyahu quickly dismissed as a “nonstarter.”
Scenes of Unity and Relief
In Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square, crowds gathered long before dawn, wrapped in Israeli and American flags, waiting to see the first signs of the helicopters returning home. Digital billboards throughout the city flashed messages reading “Thank You, President Trump” and “Peace Upon Israel.”
“I’m here for the hostages,” said Yarden, a teenager among the crowd. “Today all Israelis are together—it’s not about left or right. It’s about being one people again.”
At Tel Aviv’s beachfront, activists unveiled a massive sand display spanning three football fields in front of the U.S. Embassy branch. The design features the words “Thank You” and “Home” beside a blue-and-yellow outline of Trump’s profile—visible from the air as Air Force One approached. Organizers said they hoped both Trump and the returning hostages would see the message from above.
A Ceasefire Holding—For Now
As aid convoys rolled into Gaza, the United Nations reported distributing hundreds of thousands of hot meals and loaves of bread to civilians still trapped in the ruins. Meanwhile, armed Hamas police were seen back on patrol amid sporadic shootouts with Palestinian gangs, signaling that full peace remains elusive.
The Israeli Defense Forces have withdrawn from much of Gaza City, Khan Younis, and other key areas, though troops remain in Rafah and along the border corridor. Netanyahu warned that if Hamas refuses to disarm, Israel could “finish the job the hard way.”
Turning the Page—or a Temporary Truce?
As the sun rose over Tel Aviv, the atmosphere was a mixture of joy and cautious relief. One reporter described it as “a country coming together, mourning the dead, welcoming the living, and turning the page on a dark and painful chapter.”
Yet prophetic watchers around the world are asking a familiar question: Is this the long-foretold proclamation of “Peace and Safety” (1 Thessalonians 5:3)?
Could this agreement mark the beginning of a seven-year peace covenant—or merely the calm before another storm?
Only time will tell.
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