On Sunday, Donald Trump kicked off a high-stakes mission in Israel, declaring that the war is over in Gaza as a major hostage-prisoner swap nears completion. Two years after Hamas seized dozens of Israelis, families are finally on the brink of reunion—and the region is watching closely. 🌍🕊️
In a rare visit to Jerusalem's parliament, Trump meets with loved ones of hostages taken during the October 7, 2023 attack. He then heads to Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, to co-host a summit with President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and more than 20 world leaders. Their goal? To kick-start a lasting peace and nail down critical details of Trump's 20-point plan for the Middle East.
Meanwhile, the United Nations is ramping up humanitarian aid in Gaza. Cooking gas just entered for the first time in six months, and hundreds of thousands of hot meals and bread bundles have been distributed from north to south. 🍞🔥
The heart of the deal lies in a tense prisoner exchange: Hamas will free 20 living hostages and hand over 28 bodies in return for about 2,000 Palestinian detainees. Negotiations hit a snag when both sides couldn't agree on which names make the cut. Hamas wants senior figures like Fatah's Marwan Barghouti and the PFLP's Ahmed Saadat, while Israel prefers women, minors, and medium-term prisoners.
Despite the buzz about calm, long-term peace still feels out of reach. Israeli leaders warn the military campaign is far from over, with plans to dismantle Hamas' tunnel network once hostages return. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has even said some enemies are regrouping—and Israel must stay ready.
Think of it like the finale of your favorite series—everyone's on the edge of their seats, waiting to see if the next episode brings calm or chaos. 🤔
Reference(s):
Trump says 'war is over' in Gaza as hostage-prisoner swap nears
cgtn.com
