A major milestone in the Gaza conflict was reached on Monday as Hamas released the final 20 living Israeli hostages, triggering the reciprocal release of nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees by Israel. This exchange, a core component of the ceasefire agreement brokered through U.S. and regional mediation, has sparked scenes of celebration in the West Bank and Gaza while offering a fragile hope for a lasting peace after two years of devastating war.
The handover of the Israeli prisoners to the International Committee of the Red Cross marked a critical step in the truce that took effect on Friday. Simultaneously, buses carrying freed Palestinian prisoners arrived to jubilant crowds in Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, with other detainees released into the Gaza Strip . For many of the 1,700 detainees from Gaza, their release meant freedom after being held by Israel without charge since the war began.
While the exchange brings a moment of relief, the reality on the ground in Gaza remains one of profound humanitarian crisis and destruction. The two-year war has killed over 67,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza health ministry, a figure the United Nations considers reliable . The conflict has laid waste to much of the territory, displacing the vast majority of its 2.2 million residents and triggering a famine in Gaza City that affects over half a million people.
As the ceasefire held, thousands of displaced Palestinians began the arduous journey back to their homes in the north, only to find widespread devastation. One returnee, Rami Mohammad-Ali, described "bitter feelings about the destruction" and the sight of human remains scattered along the roads . The head of the Gaza Government Media Office has demanded an urgent and comprehensive plan for reconstruction, a task that the World Bank estimates could cost at least $53 billion.
The hostage and prisoner exchange set the stage for an international peace summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, co-chaired by U.S. President Donald Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi . The summit, attended by leaders from more than 20 countries, aimed to solidify the ceasefire and discuss the implementation of the next phases of Trump's 20-point peace plan . Notably, representatives from both Israel and Hamas were not in attendance.
During the summit, the U.S., Egypt, Qatar, and Turkiye signed a "historic" declaration committing to upholding the ceasefire . President Trump declared "peace in the Middle East" and announced that numerous wealthy countries had pledged support for Gaza's reconstruction . However, formidable obstacles to a lasting peace remain entirely unresolved. The future governance of Gaza, a full Israeli withdrawal, and Hamas's firm refusal to disarm are key sticking points that threaten the fragile calm . Hamas has previously stated that disarmament is "out of the question and not negotiable".
In the wake of the Israeli military's partial withdrawal from parts of Gaza, Hamas has begun to reassert its authority within the devastated territory. Images showed dozens of Hamas fighters deployed at a hospital in southern Gaza during the release of Israeli hostages, and there were reports of shootings and executions elsewhere in the territory targeting rival groups . This move underscores the significant challenges in establishing a stable governing structure in postwar Gaza.
The ceasefire agreement represents the most significant effort in years to end a conflict that has ravaged the Palestinian territory. While the return of the last living hostages ends a painful chapter for their families, the path forward is fraught with complexity. For Palestinians, the truce offers a respite from the bombing and a chance to recover, but the scale of loss and destruction will shape generations to come.