Peace Achieved: Visit to Celebrate Gaza Ceasefire Ahead of Egypt's Peace Summit
As-salamu alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh. The US President has embarked on a significant one-day trip to the Middle East to commemorate the ceasefire agreement in Gaza, which proceeded peacefully on Monday with the release of Israeli captives.
Twenty hostages were freed by Hamas from northern and southern Gaza. In the occupied West Bank, numerous Palestinian detainees, including women and children, were set to be released from Israeli prisons as part of the exchange agreement.
The President was warmly welcomed at Ben Gurion Airport by the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife, alongside Israel's President Isaac Herzog and senior US officials, including the Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff. His son-in-law Jared Kushner and daughter Ivanka were also present.
The US President spent some time on the tarmac speaking with Israeli officials before boarding a car adorned with both US and Israeli flags. He is scheduled to address the Knesset later today before traveling to Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt to attend a peace conference with regional, European, and international leaders.
"The war is over, insha'Allah. Do you understand that?" the President said when asked before his trip whether he believed the conflict between Israel and Hamas had truly ended. He mentioned receiving assurances from both Israel and Hamas, as well as other key regional players, regarding the initial phase and future stages of the agreement.
"We have many verbal commitments, and I hope they will not let me down," he added.
The release of Israeli hostages to the Red Cross went ahead smoothly after Hamas reiterated its support for the President’s 20-point peace plan. This agreement initiated the ceasefire that ended two years of conflict, during which over 67,000 Palestinians lost their lives due to Israeli military actions.
Hamas stated, "We affirm our commitment to the agreement and its timelines, provided the occupation adheres to them," and published a list of more than 1,900 Palestinian prisoners expected to be freed.
Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El Sisi is expected to honor the US President with Egypt’s highest state award during his visit. In Israel, President Herzog announced that he would present the US President with the country’s highest civilian honor.
May Allah grant peace and justice to the region, and may this ceasefire lead to lasting harmony among all people involved.
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