Israelis and Palestinians celebrated a rare moment of hope on Monday as a massive hostage and prisoner swap marked the first major step toward ending two years of war in Gaza. The exchange, part of a U.S.-brokered peace plan, saw Hamas release all living Israeli captives while Israel freed nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees.
Emotions ran high across both sides. In Israel, tearful families embraced their loved ones after years of uncertainty, their cries of relief echoing through crowds gathered outside hospitals and military bases. In Gaza and the occupied West Bank, Palestinian families celebrated the homecoming of relatives who had spent years behind bars, waving flags and chanting as buses carrying freed prisoners rolled in.
“This marks a historic dawn in a new Middle East,” U.S. President Donald Trump declared in a speech to Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, shortly after landing in Tel Aviv. He hailed the exchange as a “turning point toward lasting peace” before departing for Egypt to attend a summit in Sharm el-Sheikh with more than 20 global leaders.
At the summit, the United States, Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey signed a declaration guaranteeing the ceasefire, which began on Friday. The agreement follows months of diplomatic effort to end a war that has devastated Gaza, killing more than 67,000 people and destroying most of its infrastructure, according to the Hamas-run health ministry and the United Nations.
For many, Monday’s scenes of reunions symbolized both joy and grief. “For over two years, the hope of holding Ariel again is what sustained and drove me every single day,” said Arbel Yehoud, a former hostage reunited with her partner, Ariel Cunio. “I am overwhelmed with emotion and joy.”
However, tensions surfaced as families of Israeli hostages expressed anger that Hamas returned only four bodies of those confirmed dead. The Israeli military said it would conduct forensic tests before identifying the remains. Reports suggest up to 24 other hostages’ bodies may still be in Gaza, with Hamas claiming it cannot locate all remains within the ceasefire’s timeframe.
As part of the deal, Israel released around 1,700 Palestinians detained without charge and about 250 serving life sentences. Many of those freed into the West Bank were greeted by jubilant crowds in Ramallah, some draped in keffiyehs but visibly weak from years in detention. “There is joy, and there is pain,” said Khalil Muhammad Abdulrahman Al-Qatrous, waiting outside Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis for his son’s return.
In the Knesset, Trump received a standing ovation during his address, where he declared that “the long and painful nightmare is finally over.” His remarks were briefly interrupted by an opposition member holding up a sign reading “Recognise Palestine.” Later, Trump met with world leaders including UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and several Arab heads of state. The stage at the summit bore the words “Peace in the Middle East,” signaling optimism for a new regional chapter.
Under Trump’s 20-point peace framework, Gaza will be temporarily governed by a committee of Palestinian technocrats overseen by a U.S.-chaired “Board of Peace.” Former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair is expected to play a key role on the board, which will guide Gaza toward eventual control by a reformed Palestinian Authority.
But experts warn that implementing the next phases of the plan will be difficult. Disputes remain over Israel’s troop withdrawal, Hamas’ disarmament, and the governance of Gaza. Hamas has rejected foreign oversight and insisted it will not surrender its weapons unless a sovereign Palestinian state is established. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has also opposed restoring the Palestinian Authority’s control over Gaza.
When asked about the next stage of talks, Trump said, “It’s started. The phases are all a little bit mixed in with each other.”
The war began after Hamas’ October 7, 2003, assault on southern Israel, which left 1,200 people dead and 251 taken hostage. Since then, Israel’s military campaign has leveled much of Gaza, leaving over 90% of its residential buildings damaged or destroyed.
Despite lingering skepticism, Monday’s exchange gave both sides a rare glimpse of peace. As one Palestinian woman said upon reuniting with her son, “Honestly, the happiness and joy is indescribable, despite the suffering… today we came to celebrate.”
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