The ceasefire in the Gaza Strip appears to be holding as agreed. Now, attention is turning to the next steps in the peace process—including the release of hostages. US President Trump plans to travel to the region.
US President Donald Trump expects the Israeli hostages held by Hamas to be released on Monday. He told reporters at the White House this. On Friday, Trump said the hostages should be released on Monday or Tuesday and that he would likely be in Israel then.
The US President stated that he believes the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip will hold."They're all tired of fighting," he said. The ceasefire in the Gaza Strip will lead to a more comprehensive peace in the Middle East, he added. There are still a few small flashpoints, but they are"very small."
Israel's army withdraws
Hamas sources said the terrorist organization will likely hand over all living and, if possible, dead hostages in stages between Sunday and Monday morning at 6:00 a.m. (5:00 a.m. CEST), according to the news agency dpa.
In exchange for the hostages, Israel is to release nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners—including approximately 250 prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment. This agreement was preceded by indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas in Egypt. According to the peace plan, the Israeli armed forces have now withdrawn to a previously agreed position. The troops still occupy about half of the Gaza Strip.
A ceasefire came into effect in the Gaza Strip on Friday afternoon after Israel and the Islamist Hamas group agreed to the first part of a US peace plan. It stipulates the handover of the hostages within 72 hours. Currently, 48 abducted people remain in the Gaza Strip, of whom 20 are still alive, according to Israeli information.
Trump wants to speak before the Knesset
According to his own statements, Trump will depart for a trip to the Middle East on Sunday. He also plans to deliver a speech before the Knesset, the Israeli parliament. Trump announced his appearance after Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana officially invited him to the parliament and wrote on Platform X:"Israel awaits the President of Peace."
In addition to his speech to the Knesset, Trump also mentioned Egypt's capital, Cairo, as a stop on his trip. Trump had recently announced that he would travel to Egypt to participate in an"official signing" of the agreement between Israel and Hamas.
Al-Sisi invites Chancellor Merz
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi is planning a ceremony to mark the hard-won agreement after two years of war. It is still unclear when the ceremony will take place. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has also been invited.
According to the presidential office in Cairo, he and President al-Sisi spoke by phone about the details of Trump's peace plan for the coastal strip. German government sources said the Chancellor gratefully accepted the invitation."Concrete travel plans cannot be disclosed at this time, but possible participation is planned."
German government spokesman Stefan Kornelius said that Merz thanked al-Sisi in the phone call for Egypt's mediation in ending the war and acknowledged "his good services as host of the peace negotiations."
WFP: Rapid aid is vital
According to his spokesperson, Merz emphasized that Germany, together with Egypt, also wants to engage in humanitarian aid and the reconstruction of Gaza. The ceasefire should also make aid deliveries possible again."For the people of Gaza, this moment is vital," Martin Frick, Germany Director of the World Food Programme (WFP), told the German editorial network.
Frick explained that 60,000 tons of food are ready for entry at the border crossings, and another 100,000 tons are arriving in the region. This would be enough to supply Gaza for almost three months, provided access is safe and reliable.
With the start of the ceasefire, tens of thousands of people have apparently returned to the north of the Gaza Strip. The Hamas-controlled Civil Defense Agency in the Gaza Strip reported that 200,000 displaced Palestinians had returned there.
