Trump Announces Hamas-Israel Captive Deal as Part of U.S.-Backed Gaza Ceasefire:

In a significant development under a U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement, President Donald Trump announced on Friday that Hamas will release all 48 Israeli captives — including 20 living and 28 deceased — by Monday. The captives are to be exchanged for approximately 2,000 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails, marking a major step forward in the fragile peace process between Israel and Hamas. Speaking at the White House, President Trump described the upcoming exchange as a “big moment” and acknowledged the emotional weight of the situation. “Some of those bodies are being unearthed right now, as we speak,” Trump said solemnly. “It’s a tragedy. It’s a tragedy.” The deal, which follows the ratification of a ceasefire by the Israeli government early Friday morning, triggered an official countdown of 72 hours for the release of the captives. Israeli forces have already begun to withdraw from parts of Gaza, and the region has seen the cautious return of some displaced Palestinians to their devastated homes. Despite concerns that Hamas may face logistical challenges in locating all the bodies of deceased captives, Trump maintained confidence in the deal’s execution. “Of the living captives still held in Gaza, they’re in some pretty rough places, where only some people know where they are,” he said, highlighting the complexity of the rescue and exchange operations. President Trump also revealed his plans to visit Cairo over the weekend to hold further diplomatic meetings and later address Israel’s Knesset before returning to the United States. Ceasefire Aims for Lasting Peace The ceasefire agreement and prisoner exchange are part of a broader peace initiative that the Trump administration hopes will extend beyond Gaza and pave the way for future negotiations on a Palestinian state. “There is consensus on most of it,” Trump said, adding that finer details would continue to be worked out through diplomatic channels. “Because, you’ll find out that when you’re sitting in a beautiful room in Egypt, you know, it’s easy to work something out.” Despite decades of entrenched conflict, the president expressed optimism that both Hamas and Israel are ready for a new chapter. “They’re all tired of fighting,” Trump said. “This is peace in the Middle East, and it’s a beautiful thing.” Support for the deal has also come from key international players including the European Union, Iran, and Russia. The agreement, while fragile, represents one of the most comprehensive ceasefire efforts in the region in recent years. As the Monday deadline approaches, the world will be watching closely to see if both sides honor the terms of the ceasefire and prisoner exchange — a crucial test for any lasting peace in the region.

NEWS