Trump and World Leaders Sign Gaza Ceasefire as Hamas Releases Hostages and Israel Frees Palestinian Prisoners

Gaza Ceasefire Agreement Signing

At Sharm el-Sheikh, former U.S. President Donald Trump stood with Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey to sign a Gaza ceasefire document.

Multiple outlets describe the document as historic and as marking the war’s end, even though Israel and Hamas did not attend the ceremony.

Western mainstream NBC News reports an official signing ceremony for a Gaza peace plan, noting that Israel and Hamas were absent from the signing.

CBC states that leaders signed a document officially ending the Gaza war, though details were not released.

Western mainstream Euronews adds that the pact was formally signed by Trump and leaders from Qatar, Turkey, and Egypt.

Dailynewsegypt, a West Asian outlet, notes the four states formally endorsed a ceasefire agreement to end the Gaza war.

Israeli outlet i24NEWS frames the gathering as a significant diplomatic milestone, officially marking the end of hostilities in Gaza through international mediation.

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Ceasefire Prisoner Exchanges

The ceasefire’s first phase hinged on exchanges between the parties involved. Hamas returned living captives and some bodies, while Israel freed nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. Western Mainstream BBC reports the release of 20 living Israeli hostages and the remains of four deceased hostages.

Nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees were also freed according to BBC. AP News echoes that Hamas released 20 Israeli hostages as Israel freed numerous Palestinian prisoners. Latin American MercoPress specifies that Israel released 1,968 Palestinian prisoners, while Hamas has only returned four of the 28 bodies.

This limited return prompted Israeli accusations of breach of the agreement. Western Mainstream NZ Herald says Hamas is set to return the bodies of 27 hostages as well as the remains of a soldier killed in 2014. The New York Post details that at least 154 long-term prisoners were deported to Egypt.

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Casualties and Impact in Gaza

Gaza’s health ministry and multiple outlets report over 67,000 Palestinians killed during Israel’s campaign, including many civilians, women, and children. PBS states that Israel’s military response has caused over 67,000 Palestinian deaths and led to genocide allegations, which Israel denies. The Guardian reports over 67,000 Palestinians killed, with most casualties being civilians.

France 24 cites over 67,000 deaths, mostly women and children, a figure the UN finds credible. Santa Fe New Mexican also links the toll to genocide allegations denied by Israel.

Al Jazeera adds that Israeli forces have withdrawn from some parts of Gaza but still control over half the territory, where Palestinians face extensive destruction. These figures and descriptions connect the ceasefire to the dire humanitarian reality created by Israel’s bombardment and ground operations.

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Proposals for Gaza's Future

Competing blueprints for Gaza’s next stage reveal serious splits. Western Mainstream PBS and NBC Boston describe a U.S. proposal for international oversight with Palestinian technocrats and an Arab-led international security force with Palestinian police trained by Egypt and Jordan. This plan is paired with phased Israeli withdrawal.

They note Netanyahu’s opposition to Palestinian Authority reforms and to a Palestinian state. Western Alternative Euractiv and France 24 instead foreground a US-led multinational force and even a new governing body for Gaza under Trump’s leadership. 1News, a Western Mainstream outlet, details a 15-member technocratic committee vetted by Israel and overseen by a Trump-backed Board of Peace.

WANE 15 captures the political fight: the group governing Gaza opposes external involvement. Netanyahu rejects the plan, especially the Palestinian Authority’s role and any future state.

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Ongoing Conflict and Disputes

Key disputes remain unresolved: the group refuses to disarm, Israel warns it will resume military action, families demand the return of all bodies, and reports differ on how many hostages were freed. Western Tabloid Daily Mail says the group rejected Israel’s demand for disarmament, with Netanyahu warning the truce is temporary. The Guardian reports the group has begun redeploying armed fighters and police to reassert control.

Al Jazeera stresses Israel still controls over half the territory and that disarmament and governance are unresolved. DW notes families call for a suspension of the peace deal until all deceased hostages are returned.

Some outlets contradict the 20-hostage figure: Euractiv writes Israel freed about 2,000 in return for 47 hostages, while ABC reports 48 Israeli hostages were released in return for 2,000 prisoners. Separately, StratNews Global adds that Netanyahu has been issued an ICC arrest warrant for alleged war crimes, which Israel denies, underscoring the legal peril tied to Israel’s campaign that killed tens of thousands of Palestinians.

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