In an emotional day across Israel and Palestine, the first phase of Donald Trump’s US-brokered Gaza peace plan saw the exchange of all surviving Israeli hostages for nearly 2,000 Palestinian detainees. As families rejoiced, world leaders gathered in Egypt to back the ceasefire, marking a potential turning point after two years of war.

Israelis and Palestinians celebrated scenes of overwhelming emotion on Monday as a historic hostage and prisoner exchange marked a breakthrough toward peace after two years of bloodshed in Gaza. Under the US-brokered deal, Hamas freed all living Israeli hostages, while Israel released close to 2,000 Palestinian detainees. US President Donald Trump arrived in Israel moments after the first reunions, hailing the day as “the historic dawn of a new Middle East” before heading to Egypt for crucial peace talks.

Families Reunited as Ceasefire Holds

Tears, embraces, and cheers echoed across Israel and the Palestinian territories as the first phase of Trump’s 20-point Gaza peace plan unfolded. Families of Israeli hostages cried with relief as they reunited with loved ones after more than two years in captivity. “For over two years, the hope of holding Ariel again is what sustained me,” said Arbel Yehoud, who was reunited with her partner on Monday.

Across Gaza and the West Bank, Palestinians celebrated the return of prisoners, waving flags and chanting as buses carrying the freed detainees arrived. About 1,700 of those released had been held without charge, while 250 others were serving life sentences.

Trump’s Visit Marks ‘New Dawn’ in the Middle East

Arriving minutes after the reunions, Trump addressed Israel’s Knesset — the first such speech by a US president since 2008 — declaring the end of an “age of terror and death” and the beginning of an “age of faith, hope, and peace.” His words drew applause and chants of “Trump, Trump, Trump” from Israeli lawmakers.

The US leader later traveled to Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, where more than 20 world leaders, including UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and several Arab and Muslim heads of state, endorsed the peace framework. Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, and the US signed on as guarantors of the ceasefire, while former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair was named to a “Board of Peace” that will oversee Gaza’s transition.

Peace Still Faces Major Hurdles

Despite the jubilation, analysts warn that deep political and territorial challenges could stall the plan’s progress. The deal’s later phases involve Israeli troop withdrawals, Hamas disarmament, and the establishment of a reformed Palestinian Authority to eventually govern Gaza. Hamas has rejected foreign oversight and vowed not to disarm without a recognized Palestinian state, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remains skeptical of PA involvement.

Indeed, this exchange has marked a turning point in one of the world’s most intractable conflicts, but both history and mistrust weigh heavily on the road ahead. For now, the images of reunited families and freed prisoners have brought a rare sense of shared humanity to Israelis and Palestinians alike. Whether this fragile peace endures will depend on the leaders’ ability to transform symbolism into substance and hope into lasting stability.