Hamas frees Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners under Trump's Gaza ceasefire deal

Raleigh native living in Israel describes nation's mood as joyous after hostage release

The hostage swap is considered the first phase of the peace deal, with talks now taking place on what will happen to Gaza next.

Middle East receives Gaza peace plan with cautious optimism as cracks appear

The cold, harsh realities of the Gaza war and the prospect of an ongoing conflict loomed over the Middle East Tuesday, just a day after the region rejoiced at the release of hostages and President Trump's celebratory signing of the major Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal.

Palestinians in Gaza react to ceasefire with relief, fear, uncertainty

After two years of genocide, starvation, and forced displacement—with more than 67,000 killed and 169,000 wounded—President Donald Trump declared on Monday, “The war is over.” Palestinians in Gaza have long waited to hear those words.  The 20 remaining Israeli hostages were released on Sunday under a ceasefire deal led by the U.S. alongside other mediating nations. Israel also began freeing more than 1,700 Palestinian prisoners. The plan calls f…

Can Trump's peace hold?

He came, he saw, he conquered. That just about describes President Trump’s 12,000-mile round trip from Washington, D.C. to Israel and Egypt. He addressed Israel’s Knesset in Jerusalem, greeted the hostages and their families, hopped on Air Force One for a flight to Sharm el-Sheikh, signed the first phase of a Gaza peace deal, delivered a moving speech, met with the leaders of 27 countries to push the next phases of his 20-point peace plan forwar…

'Now the rebuilding begins,' says Trump as he signs Gaza peace plan

US President Donald Trump and the leaders of Egypt, Qatar and Turkey have signed a declaration for bringing peace to Gaza at a summit in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el- Sheikh.”A new and beautiful day is rising and now the rebuilding begins,” said Trump, praising regional leaders who helped cement the truce between Israel and Hamas.Earlier, in his address to the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, the president told cheering lawmakers that “the lo…

VP Vance reveals US troops will not be deployed to Israel, Gaza amid peace deal

Vice President J.D. Vance confirmed on Sunday that President Donald Trump is not planning to deploy “boots on the ground” in Israel or Gaza following the historic peace deal between Israel and Hamas. During a Sunday interview appearance on an episode of “Meet The Press” on NBC News, Vance clarified the Trump administration’s plans to have U.S. Central Command monitor the fulfillment of the peace deal between Israel and Hamas after a report cited…