A landmark Gaza peace deal, brokered by US President Donald Trump, has brought an end to two years of devastating conflict between Israel and Hamas, initiating a surprising wave of bipartisan and international commendation. The agreement, hailed as the most significant breakthrough in Middle East diplomacy in decades, culminated in the emotional release of 20 living Israeli hostages who had been held captive in Gaza since the deadly October 7, 2023 attacks, alongside an exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton publicly praised President Trump, expressing a rare bipartisan acknowledgment. Speaking to CBS News, Clinton "really commended Trump and his administration" for their commitment to the 20-point plan, highlighting a "surprising reversal of tone" given their past political clashes. She noted that Trump's negotiators effectively leveraged a critical opening created after Israel's "ill-advised" strike on Hamas leaders in Qatar. While "cautiously optimistic," Clinton stressed that the peace process would demand "patience and diligence from all sides" and significant international coordination.

The Trump-brokered 20-point peace plan outlines several key provisions: a full Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip in stages, the release of all remaining hostages (including both living and deceased), the disarmament of Hamas, and the establishment of an international "technocratic" body to govern Gaza during a transition period, excluding both Hamas and the Palestinian Authority. While the agreement recognizes an independent Palestinian state as "the aspiration of the Palestinian people," it does not commit to a specific timetable for sovereignty. The plan also includes the deployment of an Arab-led international security force in Gaza, complemented by Palestinian police trained by Egypt and Jordan, with Israeli forces withdrawing as these new forces deploy. A significant surge of humanitarian aid into famine-stricken Gaza is also anticipated.

The return of the Israeli hostages on Monday, October 13, 2025, sparked scenes of unimaginable joy and relief. Captives like Omri Miran, Matan Angrest, twin brothers Gali and Ziv Berman, Alon Ohel, and many others, were reunited with their families after 738 days of grueling captivity. Families had tirelessly campaigned for their release, and their return was celebrated across Israel, particularly in Tel Aviv's Hostages Square. Concurrently, hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, some serving life sentences, were released from Israeli jails, greeted by jubilant crowds in the West Bank and Gaza. However, Hamas was accused of a "blatant breach" of the ceasefire deal for failing to return all 28 expected deceased Israeli hostages, providing only four bodies initially, prompting calls for continued pressure from an IDF spokesperson and the establishment of a multinational task force to locate the missing remains.

President Trump arrived in Israel to deliver a historic speech to the Knesset, where he declared, "The war is over." He was awarded the Israeli Presidential Medal of Honour, the country's highest civilian honour, and was lauded by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as "the greatest friend that the State of Israel has ever had in the White House." Audiences in the Knesset wore red caps proclaiming "Trump the Peace President." Left-wing lawmakers who held signs reading "Recognise Palestine" were swiftly removed from the chamber. Following his visit to Israel, Trump co-hosted a peace summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi.

The high-level summit, attended by over 20 world leaders including French President Emmanuel Macron, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, aimed to solidify the ceasefire, discuss the implementation of Trump’s 20-point plan, and foster long-term peace and stability in the Middle East. Notable absences included Israeli officials, with Prime Minister Netanyahu citing the Jewish holiday of Sukkot, though a diplomatic row involving Turkish President Erdoğan's refusal to attend if Netanyahu were present also played a role. Hamas and Iranian officials also declined to attend.

A minor diplomatic dispute emerged regarding the UK's role in securing the ceasefire. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson's claim of a "key role" was initially rejected by top US and Israeli figures but later softened by US envoy Steve Witkoff, who praised Britain's "vital role" and the "incredible input" of national security adviser Jonathan Powell. UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, while attending the Egypt summit, affirmed the UK's commitment to supporting the peace plan's implementation.

Earlier, President Trump had suggested former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair as a potential member of a "Board of Peace" to oversee Gaza. However, Trump later hinted at a change of approach due to opposition from Palestinians and Hamas, who questioned Blair's popularity in the region given his history with the Iraq War. Sir Keir Starmer also appeared hesitant about Blair's direct involvement in the settlement.

Despite the widespread optimism, many "thorny questions" remain. Hamas has refused to disarm, a key demand in the US plan, and insisted on a complete Israeli troop withdrawal, which is still ongoing in parts of Gaza. The future governance of Gaza is also unclear, with the US plan envisioning a role for a reformed Palestinian Authority, an idea long opposed by Netanyahu. Hillary Clinton also called for Israel to cease its expansion of settlements in the West Bank. The two-year war resulted in approximately 1,200 Israeli deaths and over 67,000 Palestinian deaths, immense destruction, and the displacement of 90% of Gaza's population, highlighting the monumental task of rebuilding and achieving lasting peace.