President Donald Trump arrived in Egypt Monday for the official signing of the Israel-Hamas peace deal. The deal, which Trump helped broker, calls for Hamas to release all hostages and for Israel to release Palestinian prisoners and withdraw troops.
Trump traveled to Egypt after he addressed Israel’s parliament early Monday morning. White House communications director Steven Cheung shared a post on X saying Egyptian jets escorted Air Force One on the way.
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World leaders attended the signing ceremony, including Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will not attend meeting in Egypt, his office said. The news comes after Cairo previously announced he would take part.
Hostages return home
As of Monday morning, Hamas had handed over all 20 living hostages. Israel’s military confirmed the hostages are now back on Israeli soil.
The remains of 28 other hostages are expected to be transferred as part of the first phase of the deal. The timing of all 28 transfers is unclear, but Hamas’ military wing said the group would hand over four bodies on Monday as part of a prisoner exchange.
However, in response, the Hostages and Missing Families forum issued a statement calling for the “immediate suspension” of the peace deal until every deceased hostage is returned, according to NBC News.
While Hamas releases hostages, Israel has been releasing prisoners. NBC News reports Israel will release 250 Palestinian prisoners as part of Monday’s deal. However, 154 of them won’t be allowed to return to Gaza or the occupied West Bank. Instead, Israel has deported them to Egypt. Meanwhile, 88 head to the West Bank and Jerusalem, while eight head to Gaza.
With the return of all living hostages, Trump said phase two of the peace negotiations has begun. He said officials have begun cleaning up Gaza, the scene of mass destruction, and are searching for bodies.
Israel-Hamas war
The peace agreement comes more than two years after Hamas attacked Israel, killing about 1,200 people and sparking the start of the war.
According to the Gaza Health Ministry, the war between Israel and Hamas killed more than 67,000 Palestinians. The ministry does not differentiate between civilians and combatants.
