Cairo/Gaza/Tel Aviv – In a significant diplomatic breakthrough, Palestinian detainees and Israeli captives were freed on Friday as part of a U.S.-brokered prisoner exchange deal, coinciding with the surprise arrival of former U.S. President Donald Trump in Egypt. The development marks a new phase in the ongoing peace process aimed at ending months of bloodshed in Gaza.
According to Egyptian officials, dozens of Palestinian prisoners, including women and minors, were released from Israeli custody under a temporary ceasefire arrangement mediated by the United States, Egypt, and Qatar. In parallel, Hamas freed several Israeli civilians held in Gaza since the beginning of hostilities. The exchange took place under tight security and international supervision near the Rafah border crossing.
Crowds gathered in Ramallah and Gaza City to welcome the returning detainees, waving flags and chanting slogans in celebration. In Israel, the families of released captives expressed immense relief after weeks of uncertainty. “We’ve waited for this moment every single day. My mother is finally home,” said one Israeli relative in Tel Aviv.
Trump’s unannounced visit to Cairo added unexpected momentum to the diplomatic push. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi welcomed him at the presidential palace, where the two discussed the next steps toward implementing a U.S.–Egypt peace framework. According to senior Egyptian officials, Trump’s visit is intended to “cement the ceasefire and secure commitments from both sides toward a permanent truce.”
Speaking briefly to reporters in Cairo, Trump called the prisoner releases “a great start toward peace” and praised Egypt’s leadership role. “This is an important step forward. Peace is not just possible — it’s within reach,” he said.
While the releases have generated cautious optimism, both Israeli and Palestinian officials warned that the path to a lasting settlement remains complex. Israel’s government reiterated that the ceasefire would hold only if Hamas stops all militant activity, while Hamas insisted that any permanent peace must include a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
International observers view the coordinated prisoner exchange and Trump’s visit as a carefully timed diplomatic maneuver. “This is symbolic and strategic — it combines humanitarian relief with political momentum,” said a Middle East analyst. “If the truce holds, this could set the stage for a broader peace conference in the coming weeks.”
As night fell, families on both sides of the border celebrated quietly — Palestinians lighting candles for those still detained, and Israelis praying for the safe return of others still missing. For a region scarred by decades of conflict, today’s events offered a rare and fragile glimpse of hope — one that now rests on whether diplomacy can outlast the echoes of war.