Hamas announced it will begin releasing Israeli hostages in Gaza on Monday, just hours before a high-stakes peace summit chaired by U.S. President Donald Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. The deal includes freeing 20 captives in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, marking a critical first step in easing tensions.
Global Leaders Gather in Egypt
Over 20 countries will join the summit in Sharm el-Sheikh to discuss Trump’s peace plan, which proposes replacing Israeli forces in Gaza with a multinational security team from Egypt, Qatar, Türkiye, and the UAE. Attendees include UN chief Antonio Guterres, UK PM Keir Starmer, and France’s Emmanuel Macron. Notably, Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu hasn’t confirmed attendance, while Hamas declined participation, relying on Qatari and Egyptian mediators.
What’s Next?
While the hostage release is a breakthrough, challenges remain: Hamas must disarm and relinquish governance under the plan. Analysts call it a “high-risk, high-reward” move—could this be the start of lasting peace, or just a temporary truce? Stay tuned. 🕊️
