Trump arrives in Israel as Hamas releases remaining hostages | DW News

Key Concepts

• Knesset: The Israeli parliament.
• Hamas: The militant group that held hostages in Gaza.
• Nova Festival: A music festival from which some Israeli hostages were abducted.
• Kibbutz: A communal settlement in Israel.
• International Red Cross: An organization facilitating the handover of hostages.
• UN Office for Humanitarian Affairs: An agency involved in coordinating and delivering aid to Gaza.
• Sharm El Sheikh Summit: A gathering of world leaders in Egypt aimed at discussing the future of Gaza and formalizing the ceasefire.
• Palestinian Authority (PA): The governing body of the Palestinian autonomous regions, represented by President Mahmud Abbas, seen as crucial for Gaza's post-conflict governance.
• Hostage Square: A public gathering place in Israel where families and supporters advocated for the release of hostages.
• Demilitarization: The process of removing military forces and weapons from an area.
• Transactional President: A leader whose approach is primarily focused on exchanges, deals, and achieving specific, often short-term, outcomes.

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President Trump's Arrival and Diplomatic Engagements

US President Donald Trump arrived in Israel, landing at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, ahead of peace talks aimed at ending the conflict in Gaza. He was greeted by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog, accompanied by his son-in-law Jared Kushner, daughter Ivanka Trump, and Middle East envoy Steve Whitov. During his brief visit to Israel, lasting only a few hours, President Trump is scheduled to address the Knesset, the Israeli parliament. Following his engagements in Israel, he will travel to Egypt to attend a "peace summit" in Sharm El Sheikh, a gathering of world leaders focused on Gaza. While aboard Air Force One, Trump offered an optimistic assessment, stating, "War is over. The war is over," and expressed confidence that the ceasefire would hold, attributing this to people being "tired of it" after "centuries" of conflict.

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Hostage Release: Phase One and Humanitarian Concerns

The President's visit coincides with a significant breakthrough: the militant group Hamas has begun releasing surviving hostages who had been held captive in Gaza for two years since October 7. This marks the first phase of a new agreement. The initial batch of seven hostages has been released, with an additional 13 surviving hostages expected to be freed imminently. Reports indicate that Hamas allowed these hostages to call their families before their release. The International Red Cross is actively involved, en route to southern Gaza to facilitate the handover at a designated meeting point.

Upon release, the hostages are being taken to a military base for an initial reunion with their families, followed by medical checks. They will then be transferred to hospitals across Israel, primarily in Tel Aviv, for further treatment. Specific individuals from the first batch include Alon Hell (abducted from the Nova festival), Matan Angress (a soldier stationed near Gaza), twin brothers Scarian Sith and Bman (taken from Kibbutz Gee Gilboa Dalal Eton), Eton Moore (a security guard at the Nova music festival), and Omiran (an older individual with two daughters). While there is significant concern about the hostages' conditions, given previous videos showing some appearing emaciated, the mother of Eton Moore reported him as "thin and pale but smiling." The agreement also includes the eventual retrieval of the remains of 28 deceased hostages.

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Gaza's Humanitarian Crisis and Ceasefire Fragility

The hostage release is intrinsically linked to the humanitarian situation in Gaza. As part of the agreement's first phase, more aid and supplies are now entering the strip. The UN Office for Humanitarian Affairs reported successfully delivering cooking gas and fresh fruits, with hopes for more items. However, deep concerns persist among Gazans that the ceasefire or "pause in fighting" might not last. Many forcibly displaced residents are attempting to return to Gaza City, only to find their homes destroyed, leaving them with "nothing to go back to." Others are desperately searching for loved ones buried under rubble, highlighting the "extremely difficult situation" on the ground. Gaza is described as "destroyed," with 90% of its physical infrastructure and 98% of agricultural land bulldozed, necessitating massive reconstruction efforts for clinics, hospitals, and schools.

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The Sharm El Sheikh Summit and the Future of Gaza

The summit in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, is a critical next step, aiming to formalize the temporary ceasefire into a permanent end to the war. Mediators, including the United States, Egypt, Qatar, and potentially Turkey, are expected to sign a document guaranteeing lasting peace. Notably, Israel and Hamas will not be present at this meeting. The Palestinian Authority, represented by President Mahmud Abbas, will attend, which is seen as a "very positive sign" for its crucial role in Gaza's post-conflict governance.

Professor Far Gas, a Middle Eastern politics and international relations expert, highlighted that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's absence likely stems from his reluctance to commit to ending the war, as he has repeatedly stated the Israeli army will remain in Gaza. Furthermore, Netanyahu is "viscerally opposed" to the concept of a Palestinian state, which would unify Gaza with the West Bank and East Jerusalem, a topic expected to be discussed at the summit. Hamas, not formally part of the Palestinian Authority, has stated it worked through mediators Egypt and Qatar.

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Challenges for a Lasting Peace: Israeli Withdrawal and Hamas Disarmament

The "million-dollar question" facing the international community is how to achieve a lasting peace, specifically addressing the withdrawal of the Israeli army from Gaza and the disarmament of Hamas. Currently, Israel controls 53% of Gaza, and Hamas remains a significant military and policing force within the strip. Hamas has consistently stated that "surrendering is not an option" and that it is an "integral part of the social fabric." While it has insinuated a willingness to disarm, it would only hand over its weapons to a Palestinian Authority that governs both Gaza and the West Bank, not to the Israeli army or an international force.

Netanyahu, conversely, has expressed no desire to withdraw his army as long as Hamas is not disarmed and Gaza is not demilitarized. Professor Gas emphasized that for Trump's declaration of "war is over" to be genuine, the US must exert "massive American pressure" on Netanyahu to ensure a permanent Israeli withdrawal. The Sharm El Sheikh meeting will also discuss the composition of a proposed international force, likely comprising Arab and Islamic states, alongside the Palestinian Authority, signaling Palestinian agency in their internal affairs.

Key actors in securing Gaza's future include Egypt, Turkey, Qatar, and Jordan among Arab states, with Germany and the European Union playing a major role in reconstruction. A Security Council resolution is deemed necessary to formalize the presence of any Arab state in Gaza and to send a clear message to Israel that Palestinians must be allowed to govern themselves in Gaza, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem.

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Ceasefire Stability and Internal Israeli Dynamics

The ceasefire, while holding "so far so good," is considered fragile. DW's Middle East analyst Shai Rosanes noted that while Trump views it as the end of the war, it would be difficult for Netanyahu to relaunch military action without a "good enough excuse," especially given Israel's reliance on American approval. The ceasefire's longevity depends on Hamas's incentives to cooperate, particularly if it perceives a stake in a future Palestinian entity, and on the sustained, active commitment of the international alliance (over 20 countries represented at Sharm El Sheikh).

Internally, Israel is experiencing a complex mix of relief and tension. Public gatherings in West Jerusalem and "Hostage Square" (now referred to as "Hope Square") have been central to advocating for the hostages' release. There is significant public gratitude towards President Trump for his perceived role in the breakthrough, leading to a visible "rift" with Netanyahu, who some Israelis feel has not received due credit or fully supported the hostage families' efforts. The return of the hostages, while a moment of immense relief, also brings an inward focus for Israelis, necessitating a process of "inward healing and dialogue" to address these societal divisions.