Following the ceasefire agreement that led to the release of 20 Israeli hostages and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, uncertainties over the next steps in the peace process in Gaza are increasing.
Israeli families of the slain hostages have expressed anger after only four of the 28 confirmed bodies were handed over in the exchange. Under the agreement, reported by Israeli media, Hamas and other Palestinian factions themselves have acknowledged that they may not be able to identify all of the human remains within the deadline.
While the released hostages are undergoing medical checkups, Israeli media reports of brutal detention, including starvation and torture. On the other hand, many of the released Palestinians – who were held without charge during the war – also claim to have been mistreated in Israeli prisons. Some of them, after being released, learned that their family members had been killed in the fighting.
In this uncertain political climate, Donald Trump called the day of the exchange "historic for the Middle East," as he landed in Washington after signing an official peace document.
“Trump’s Declaration on Sustainable Peace and Prosperity”
At a summit held yesterday in Egypt, four world leaders signed a new political document on the conflict: US President Donald Trump, Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi, Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The document, released by the White House, states:
“We welcome the historic commitment to implementing the Trump Peace Agreement, ending more than two years of suffering and loss. We support efforts for a lasting peace, where both Palestinians and Israelis live in security, dignity, and protected rights.”
The declaration emphasizes the need for:
Resolving disputes through diplomacy, not force;
Combating extremism in all its forms;
Respecting the religious heritage of Christianity, Islam and Judaism;
Ensuring equality and opportunities for every citizen regardless of religion, race or ethnicity.
Leaders pledge to implement the new peace agreement in Gaza and turn it into a "lasting legacy for future generations."
On the ground, peace remains fragile. But international diplomacy appears to have entered a new phase – with Trump seeking to stamp his name as the architect of a new phase in the Middle East.
