Trump Declares Gaza War Over as Hamas Prepares to Release Hostages After Two Years

Donald Trump declared the Gaza war "over" and flew in to speak at Israel’s Knesset and co‑chair a Sharm el‑Sheikh summit as a ceasefire held and Hamas prepared to hand over hostages abducted on October 7, 2023 after nearly two years in captivity.

“Israel is preparing for the release of hostages held in Gaza, expected to begin early Monday morning local time”

CNN en Español

Outlets report that Israel expects "all 20 living hostages" to be transferred at once to the Red Cross.

CNN en Español

Trump’s first phase includes returning hostages, freeing Palestinian prisoners, and a partial Israeli withdrawal.

France 24 describes Trump receiving a "hero’s welcome" amid a fragile truce, while local and mainstream sources detail early‑Monday logistics and the sequencing of releases.

Trump and Israeli leaders framed the moment as a pivot to "healing" even as officials caution the fight is not fully over.

Outlets agree the exchange centers on releasing 20 living Israeli hostages to the Red Cross and freeing Palestinian prisoners.

They diverge on who and how many prisoners are involved.

BBC

The Telegraph reports a demand for seven high-profile detainees including Marwan Barghouti, which Israel refuses.

Metro and The Sun detail an insistence that at least some of those leaders be included in the exchange.

BreakingNews.ie and PBS add scale, suggesting roughly 2,000 prisoners could be released.

Among those, 250 are serving life sentences and 1,700 were seized from Gaza and held without charge.

NBC News highlights a sticking point: mediators confirm Barghouti is not on the current list.

Sources agree that Israel’s military killed more than 67,000 Palestinians in Gaza and displaced about 90% of the enclave.

“Preparations are underway for the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza and Palestinian prisoners detained in Israel, expected to begin Monday morning”

BreakingNews.ie

Many bodies remain under rubble, and entire neighborhoods have been flattened.

PBS reports that 233 bodies have been recovered since the ceasefire, with families retrieving remains after months.

NPR and France 24 confirm the extensive scale of killing and displacement.

The Independent shows civilians returning to find their homes reduced to ash.

These reports also document Palestinians and global activists accusing Israel of genocide.

PBS explicitly notes allegations of genocide, which Israel denies.

Aid trucks line up at Rafah, but distribution is slow, and Gaza’s health system is shattered.

This situation highlights the severe humanitarian crisis caused by Israel’s bombardment and siege.

The endgame for Gaza’s governance and security remains unsettled.

The Mountaineer reports a partial Israeli withdrawal to be followed by a multinational force run by a US-led command center.

CBS News

ABC News also mentions a partial Israeli military withdrawal.

NPR and PBS state that Israel’s defense minister plans to dismantle militant tunnels under a U.S.-led mechanism after hostages are freed.

Morocco World News and Mint report that the militant group will not participate in transitional governance but will not hand over weapons, contradicting former President Trump's disarmament plan.

The Telegraph similarly reports that the group is willing to relinquish control but would not disarm.

Meanwhile, the BBC documents the militant security forces fighting the Dughmush militia, revealing internal armed power brokers who complicate any transition.

The politics are split-screen: France 24 describes a “hero’s welcome” for Trump, while CNN en Español reports a boycott by right-wing lawmakers of his Knesset speech.

CBS News says the UK’s Keir Starmer is in Egypt as the UK recognizes a Palestinian state.

PBS

Al Jazeera and Metro detail a summit with world leaders, Iran refusing to attend, and public acknowledgments of Trump’s role.

Washington Examiner and The Independent amplify celebratory scenes, while CNN and aid-focused outlets highlight trucks at Rafah and large-scale shipments.

These optics contrast sharply with the on-the-ground reality of Gaza’s destruction by Israeli forces.