By Gbenga Oresanya,
In a landmark moment for Middle East diplomacy, U.S. President Donald Trump declared the end of the two-year Gaza war following the successful exchange of the last living Israeli hostages for nearly 2,000 Palestinian detainees. The announcement marks a pivotal turning point in a conflict that has devastated communities across Israel and the Palestinian territories, and signals the beginning of a new phase of peace-building efforts.
On October 13, 2025, Hamas released the final 20 Israeli hostages confirmed to be alive, transferring them to the Red Cross for safe passage into Israel. The Israeli military confirmed their arrival, prompting emotional scenes at “Hostage Square” in Tel Aviv, where thousands gathered to celebrate the return of their loved ones.
Simultaneously, Israel released busloads of Palestinian prisoners and detainees, many of whom were greeted with tears and jubilation by families in Gaza and the West Bank. The swap was part of a broader ceasefire agreement brokered by international mediators including Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey.
President Trump addressed Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, declaring, “The skies are calm, the guns are silent, the sirens are still, and peace has arrived.” He later convened a summit in Egypt with Muslim and European leaders to discuss the future of Gaza and the broader regional peace process. Notably, both Hamas and Israeli representatives were absent from the summit, underscoring the fragile nature of the current truce.
At the summit, Trump and other world leaders signed a U.S.-brokered peace accord aimed at stabilizing Gaza and initiating reconstruction efforts. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and other global figures pledged resources to rebuild the war-torn region.
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While the ceasefire and prisoner exchange represent a major diplomatic victory, significant hurdles remain.
Key issues include:
Governance in Gaza: Questions persist about who will administer the region post-conflict.
Demilitarization: Israel continues to demand that Hamas disarm.
Humanitarian Crisis: Gaza faces severe shortages of food, water, and medical supplies.
Reconciliation: Deep mistrust between communities will require sustained peace-building efforts.
FORMIDABLE OBSTACLES REMAIN
The Israeli hostages freed on Monday were the last still alive in captivity from 251 seized in the Hamas-led attacks of October 7, 2023 that killed 1,200 people and triggered the war.
The ceasefire and partial Israeli withdrawal agreed last week halted one of Israel’s biggest offensives of the war, an all-out assault on Gaza City that was killing scores of people per day.
Since then, huge numbers of Palestinians have been able to return to the ruins of homes in the Gaza Strip, swathes of which were reduced to a wasteland by Israeli bombardment that killed 68,000 people, according to Gaza health authorities.
The international community has largely welcomed the ceasefire, with calls for transparency, accountability, and long-term investment in peace. Human rights organizations have urged both sides to uphold the terms of the agreement and prioritize civilian welfare.
The end of the Gaza war marks a historic moment, but peace remains a delicate ambition. As hostages reunite with families and prisoners return home, the world watches closely to see whether this fragile truce can evolve into lasting stability.
If you’d like, I can help draft a policy brief or peace advocacy statement based on these developments.
JOY, RELIEF ON BOTH SIDES
Beaming with relief and joy, two released hostages waved to cheering crowds from vans on the way to an Israeli hospital, one hoisting a large Israeli flag then forming a heart with his hands.
Video footage captured emotional scenes of families receiving phone messages from their loved ones as they were being released, their faces lighting up with disbelief and hope after months of anguish.
“I am so excited. I am full of happiness. It’s hard to imagine how I feel this moment. I didn’t sleep all night,” said Viki Cohen, mother of hostage Nimrod Cohen, as she travelled to Reim, an Israeli military camp where hostages were being transferred.
Palestinians meanwhile rushed to embrace prisoners freed by Israel. Several thousand gathered inside and around Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis in southern Gaza, some waving Palestinian flags, others holding photos of their relatives.
“I am happy for our sons who are being freed, but we are still in pain for all those who have been killed by the occupation, and all the destruction that happened to our Gaza,” a Gaza woman, Um Ahmed, told Reuters in a tearful voice message.
Freed prisoners arrived in buses, some of them posing from the windows, flashing V-for-Victory signs. The appearance of armed and masked Hamas fighters at the scene underscored the difficulty of resolving Israel’s demand that they disarm.
