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Tuesday, 14 October, 2025

Trump Declares End to Gaza War as Final Hostages Freed in Landmark Deal

Express Desk
  14 Oct 2025, 01:35

US President Donald Trump on Monday declared an end to the two-year Gaza war, moments after Hamas freed the last surviving Israeli hostages under a ceasefire deal that also saw Israel release hundreds of Palestinian detainees.

The historic exchange — brokered after weeks of intense diplomacy — marked a dramatic close to one of the Middle East’s deadliest and most divisive conflicts in decades.

Within hours of his announcement, Trump convened Muslim and European leaders in Egypt to chart Gaza’s postwar future and explore prospects for a broader regional peace. Neither Hamas nor Israel attended the summit, leaving uncertainty over how the fragile ceasefire will evolve in the coming days.

The Israeli military confirmed it had received all 20 remaining hostages verified to be alive, following their handover by the Red Cross. News of their return set off an emotional wave at Tel Aviv’s “Hostage Square,” where thousands erupted into cheers, tears, and embraces as images of the freed captives lit up giant screens.

In Gaza, scenes of jubilation unfolded as well. Thousands of relatives, many in tears, gathered outside hospitals to greet the buses carrying home some of the nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees freed under the accord.

“The skies are calm, the guns are silent, the sirens are still, and the sun rises on a Holy Land that is finally at peace,” Trump told the Israeli Knesset, declaring that a “long nightmare” for both Israelis and Palestinians had come to an end.

The United States, alongside Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, mediated what officials described as the first-phase agreement between Israel and Hamas — combining a ceasefire with reciprocal releases of hostages and prisoners.

“The skies are calm, the guns are silent, the sirens are still, and the sun rises on a Holy Land that is finally at peace,” Trump told the Israeli Knesset, declaring that a “long nightmare” for both Israelis and Palestinians had come to an end.

Later on Monday, Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi co-hosted a summit in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, attended by more than 20 world leaders and aimed at consolidating the truce.

At the opening, Trump joined Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey in signing a document welcoming the Gaza agreement and pledging to “work collectively to implement and sustain this legacy.” Egypt’s presidency said discussions focused on Gaza’s governance, security, and reconstruction.

“Now the rebuilding begins,” Trump said in an expansive speech, calling the Gaza accord “the greatest deal of them all.”

Israel and Hamas were not represented at the summit, while Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates were notably absent. Trump was seen greeting Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, who spoke with him at length. The Palestinian Authority seeks a central role in Gaza’s future administration — a proposal strongly opposed by Israel.

A convoy carrying released hostages, who had been held in Gaza since the deadly Oct 7, 2023 attack by Hamas, and who were released as part of a prisoner-hostage swap and a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, arrives in Reim, southern Israel, Oct 13, 2025. REUTERS/Amir Cohen

Formidable Challenges Ahead

The hostages released on Monday were the last known to be alive among the 251 taken during Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attacks, which killed 1,200 people and triggered the war.

The ceasefire and partial Israeli withdrawal agreed last week brought an end to one of Israel’s most devastating offensives — an all-out assault on Gaza City that had claimed scores of lives daily.

In the days since, thousands of Palestinians have returned to the ruins of their homes across the enclave, vast parts of which lie in rubble after Israeli bombardments that, according to Gaza health authorities, killed more than 68,000 people.

Yet formidable obstacles remain — even to securing an enduring ceasefire, let alone achieving lasting peace. Among the immediate challenges are the recovery of 26 Israeli hostages believed dead, and two others still unaccounted for.

Hamas officials said recovering remains may take time, as not all burial sites are known. The Israeli military said it had received four coffins containing the bodies of hostages and was working to identify them.

Humanitarian needs remain dire. Hundreds of thousands in Gaza face famine, prompting UN aid chief Tom Fletcher to urge “massive scaling up” of food, fuel, and medical supplies.

Crucial political questions also linger — who will govern and police Gaza, and what will become of Hamas, which continues to reject Israel’s demand for full disarmament.

In Gaza City, Hamas gunmen reportedly launched a security crackdown after Israel’s withdrawal, killing 32 members of a rival faction, a Palestinian security source said. Meanwhile, tensions are rising in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, where settlement expansion continues on land Palestinians claim for a future state.

Trump, speaking aboard Air Force One en route to the region, said Hamas had been granted a temporary mandate to maintain order. “They want to stop the problems, and we gave them approval for a period of time,” he said.

The war also reshaped regional dynamics, spilling over into Israel’s clashes with Iran and its allies, including Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen. Trump suggested his peace initiative could pave the way for a broader realignment — even hinting at a potential peace deal between Israel and Iran.

“Wouldn’t it be nice?” Trump told the Knesset. “I think Iran wants one.”

Joy and Relief Across the Divide

Beaming with relief, two freed hostages waved to cheering crowds from vans en route to an Israeli hospital, one lifting a flag and forming a heart with his hands.

Video clips showed families in disbelief as they received calls from their loved ones moments after release. “I am full of happiness — it’s hard to describe this moment,” said Viki Cohen, mother of hostage Nimrod Cohen, speaking near the Reim military camp where the hostages were taken for medical checks.

Across the border in southern Gaza, thousands gathered outside Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis to welcome freed prisoners. Many waved Palestinian flags; others held photos of relatives lost in the conflict.

“I am happy our sons are coming home,” said Um Ahmed, her voice breaking. “But our hearts still ache for all who were killed, and for the destruction of Gaza.”

As buses arrived, some freed detainees flashed V-for-victory signs from the windows, while armed Hamas fighters watched over the scene — a reminder of the challenges that still lie ahead in ending the cycle of conflict.

Israel said it would release 1,700 detainees captured during the war and 250 prisoners convicted or accused of security offences, including attacks on Israelis.

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Trump Declares End to Gaza War as Final Hostages Freed in Landmark Deal

Express Desk
  14 Oct 2025, 01:35

US President Donald Trump on Monday declared an end to the two-year Gaza war, moments after Hamas freed the last surviving Israeli hostages under a ceasefire deal that also saw Israel release hundreds of Palestinian detainees.

The historic exchange — brokered after weeks of intense diplomacy — marked a dramatic close to one of the Middle East’s deadliest and most divisive conflicts in decades.

Within hours of his announcement, Trump convened Muslim and European leaders in Egypt to chart Gaza’s postwar future and explore prospects for a broader regional peace. Neither Hamas nor Israel attended the summit, leaving uncertainty over how the fragile ceasefire will evolve in the coming days.

The Israeli military confirmed it had received all 20 remaining hostages verified to be alive, following their handover by the Red Cross. News of their return set off an emotional wave at Tel Aviv’s “Hostage Square,” where thousands erupted into cheers, tears, and embraces as images of the freed captives lit up giant screens.

In Gaza, scenes of jubilation unfolded as well. Thousands of relatives, many in tears, gathered outside hospitals to greet the buses carrying home some of the nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees freed under the accord.

“The skies are calm, the guns are silent, the sirens are still, and the sun rises on a Holy Land that is finally at peace,” Trump told the Israeli Knesset, declaring that a “long nightmare” for both Israelis and Palestinians had come to an end.

The United States, alongside Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, mediated what officials described as the first-phase agreement between Israel and Hamas — combining a ceasefire with reciprocal releases of hostages and prisoners.

“The skies are calm, the guns are silent, the sirens are still, and the sun rises on a Holy Land that is finally at peace,” Trump told the Israeli Knesset, declaring that a “long nightmare” for both Israelis and Palestinians had come to an end.

Later on Monday, Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi co-hosted a summit in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, attended by more than 20 world leaders and aimed at consolidating the truce.

At the opening, Trump joined Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey in signing a document welcoming the Gaza agreement and pledging to “work collectively to implement and sustain this legacy.” Egypt’s presidency said discussions focused on Gaza’s governance, security, and reconstruction.

“Now the rebuilding begins,” Trump said in an expansive speech, calling the Gaza accord “the greatest deal of them all.”

Israel and Hamas were not represented at the summit, while Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates were notably absent. Trump was seen greeting Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, who spoke with him at length. The Palestinian Authority seeks a central role in Gaza’s future administration — a proposal strongly opposed by Israel.

A convoy carrying released hostages, who had been held in Gaza since the deadly Oct 7, 2023 attack by Hamas, and who were released as part of a prisoner-hostage swap and a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas, arrives in Reim, southern Israel, Oct 13, 2025. REUTERS/Amir Cohen

Formidable Challenges Ahead

The hostages released on Monday were the last known to be alive among the 251 taken during Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attacks, which killed 1,200 people and triggered the war.

The ceasefire and partial Israeli withdrawal agreed last week brought an end to one of Israel’s most devastating offensives — an all-out assault on Gaza City that had claimed scores of lives daily.

In the days since, thousands of Palestinians have returned to the ruins of their homes across the enclave, vast parts of which lie in rubble after Israeli bombardments that, according to Gaza health authorities, killed more than 68,000 people.

Yet formidable obstacles remain — even to securing an enduring ceasefire, let alone achieving lasting peace. Among the immediate challenges are the recovery of 26 Israeli hostages believed dead, and two others still unaccounted for.

Hamas officials said recovering remains may take time, as not all burial sites are known. The Israeli military said it had received four coffins containing the bodies of hostages and was working to identify them.

Humanitarian needs remain dire. Hundreds of thousands in Gaza face famine, prompting UN aid chief Tom Fletcher to urge “massive scaling up” of food, fuel, and medical supplies.

Crucial political questions also linger — who will govern and police Gaza, and what will become of Hamas, which continues to reject Israel’s demand for full disarmament.

In Gaza City, Hamas gunmen reportedly launched a security crackdown after Israel’s withdrawal, killing 32 members of a rival faction, a Palestinian security source said. Meanwhile, tensions are rising in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, where settlement expansion continues on land Palestinians claim for a future state.

Trump, speaking aboard Air Force One en route to the region, said Hamas had been granted a temporary mandate to maintain order. “They want to stop the problems, and we gave them approval for a period of time,” he said.

The war also reshaped regional dynamics, spilling over into Israel’s clashes with Iran and its allies, including Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen. Trump suggested his peace initiative could pave the way for a broader realignment — even hinting at a potential peace deal between Israel and Iran.

“Wouldn’t it be nice?” Trump told the Knesset. “I think Iran wants one.”

Joy and Relief Across the Divide

Beaming with relief, two freed hostages waved to cheering crowds from vans en route to an Israeli hospital, one lifting a flag and forming a heart with his hands.

Video clips showed families in disbelief as they received calls from their loved ones moments after release. “I am full of happiness — it’s hard to describe this moment,” said Viki Cohen, mother of hostage Nimrod Cohen, speaking near the Reim military camp where the hostages were taken for medical checks.

Across the border in southern Gaza, thousands gathered outside Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis to welcome freed prisoners. Many waved Palestinian flags; others held photos of relatives lost in the conflict.

“I am happy our sons are coming home,” said Um Ahmed, her voice breaking. “But our hearts still ache for all who were killed, and for the destruction of Gaza.”

As buses arrived, some freed detainees flashed V-for-victory signs from the windows, while armed Hamas fighters watched over the scene — a reminder of the challenges that still lie ahead in ending the cycle of conflict.

Israel said it would release 1,700 detainees captured during the war and 250 prisoners convicted or accused of security offences, including attacks on Israelis.

Comments

Stop Wars, Feed the Hungry: Bangladesh CA Prof Yunus Tells Global Leaders
US, Egypt, Qatar and Turkey Sign Breakthrough Gaza Declaration
Israel Says Gaza Hostages to Be Freed ‘Within Hours’
Palestinians Return as Aid Convoys Enter Gaza Under Ceasefire
Bloodbath in Al-Fashir: 60 Killed in Deadly Attack, Activists Report