A profound sense of anticipation, mixed with relief and elation, gripped both Israelis and Palestinians this Sunday as preparations intensified for a significant exchange: all remaining live hostages in Gaza for approximately 2,000 Palestinians currently imprisoned by Israel. This landmark swap forms the very foundation of a recently brokered cease-fire agreement.
The Israeli government confirmed that the exchange is slated to commence Monday morning, local time, though officials expressed readiness to proceed even sooner. The palpable optimism is further bolstered by the open-ended truce between Israel and Hamas, meticulously brokered by the United States and various Arab mediators, which has impressively held firm since its implementation on Friday afternoon.
Under the initial phase of this pivotal cease-fire, Israeli forces have already pulled back to a new defensive line within Gaza. Concurrently, thousands of displaced Palestinian residents have begun their arduous journey home to Gaza City in the northern part of the territory. This phase also promises an increased flow of desperately needed humanitarian aid—including food and medicine—into the beleaguered enclave.
Adding a high-profile diplomatic layer to these events, President Trump is expected to arrive in Israel on Monday for a brief yet impactful visit. His itinerary includes meetings with the families of the hostages, a deeply symbolic gesture, followed by an address to the Israeli Knesset, the nation’s parliament in Jerusalem.
Following his visit to Israel, President Trump is scheduled to travel to Sharm el-Sheikh, a picturesque Red Sea resort in Egypt. There, he and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi will co-chair a crucial summit alongside other Arab partners who played a vital role in securing this agreement. While world leaders have received invitations to attend, it remains uncertain whether any official Israeli or Palestinian representatives will be present.
Despite the prevailing hope, analysts caution that the cease-fire agreement remains notably light on specifics, leaving critical questions unanswered. These include the future disarmament and potential dismantling of Hamas’s authority in Gaza, and perhaps most importantly, how the war-ravaged territory will be governed moving forward.
President Trump’s envisioned roadmap for peace explicitly calls for Hamas to disarm and for the comprehensive demilitarization of Gaza. However, Hamas officials have consistently voiced strong reservations regarding both these stipulations.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had previously made these very steps non-negotiable conditions for ending the conflict. The ongoing uncertainty regarding an international stabilization force, suggested by Mr. Trump to oversee postwar security in Gaza, further complicates the fragile path ahead. It remains unclear which nations, if any, are prepared to commit troops to such a mission.
Adding a perplexing element to Sunday’s unfolding events, Israel’s defense minister, Israel Katz, released a statement asserting that his country’s paramount challenge, post-hostage release, would be the “destruction of all of Hamas’s terror tunnels in Gaza.” Mr. Katz detailed that this mission would be executed through direct action by Israeli military forces, complemented by an international mechanism established under the leadership and oversight of the United States. He emphasized that obliterating these tunnels would be the clearest manifestation of Gaza’s demilitarization and the eradication of Hamas’s weaponry, confirming he had “instructed the Israeli military to prepare to carry out the mission.”
However, Mr. Katz’s declaration notably failed to address the significant fact that Israeli forces have now withdrawn from Gaza City. According to recent statements from Israeli leaders, a substantial portion of Hamas’s military infrastructure remains operational within the city, which they had only recently described as one of the militant group’s final strongholds. The current terms of the agreement stipulate that Israeli forces are prohibited from re-entering areas from which they have retreated, provided Hamas continues to adhere to the cease-fire.
Gabby Sobelman contributed reporting.