Hostage Deal in Gaza: A New Phase of Humanitarian and Political Challenges Begins

Following the completion of the first phase of the agreement between Israel and Hamas—which saw the release of twenty Israeli hostages in exchange for the freedom of hundreds of Palestinian detainees and the entry of additional humanitarian aid into Gaza—U.S. President Donald Trump has reiterated that the mission is not yet finished and that the second phase is about to commence. Trump clarified via his Truth Social platform that all hostages have returned safely, but the promise to transfer the bodies of the deceased has not yet been fulfilled, highlighting the ongoing complications.

This new phase is expected to focus on the delivery of the remains of hostages who died during captivity, alongside continuing the flow of humanitarian aid to the besieged Gaza Strip, amid increasing international pressure on all parties to uphold the ceasefire. According to officials, the process of returning the remains of four hostages is scheduled to begin tonight under the supervision of international mediators, while the Rafah crossing remains closed—further hampering the delivery of aid.

These developments demonstrate that the situation remains highly complex, with negotiations regarding prisoners and missing individuals still unresolved and both political and humanitarian challenges dominating the scene. As such, attention now turns to the outcome of the second phase of the agreement and its potential to foster stability and promote calm in Gaza.