On October 13, 2025, President Donald Trump declared the end of the Israel-Hamas war during a speech to the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, in Jerusalem. Trump announced that the skies were calm, the guns silent, and the sirens still, marking what he described as the conclusion of an era of terror and the beginning of an age of faith, hope, and lasting peace in the region. This declaration coincided with the historic release of the remaining living Israeli hostages held in Gaza and the simultaneous release of over 1,900 Palestinian prisoners by Israel, actions that form the initial phase of Trump’s comprehensive 20-point peace plan for the Middle East. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, while cautious about officially declaring the war over, expressed his commitment to peace during his speech preceding Trump’s address. Netanyahu thanked Trump for his leadership in proposing a plan that garnered near-global support, facilitated the return of hostages, ended the war by achieving key objectives, and opened the door to a historic expansion of peace in the region and beyond. Following the parliamentary speeches, Trump traveled to Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, to co-chair a peace summit with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. The summit featured the official signing ceremony of the ceasefire proposal. President el-Sisi praised Trump’s role in brokering a deal beneficial to the entire region and invited him to join leaders advocating for global peace. El-Sisi described the agreement as a hopeful milestone ending a painful chapter in human history and ushering in a new era of peace and stability in the Middle East. Despite the celebratory atmosphere surrounding the hostage and prisoner releases, Middle East experts caution that the path to lasting peace remains challenging. Michael Ratney, former U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia, emphasized that while the current developments are significant, true peace has not yet been achieved and substantial work remains, including implementing many measures outlined in the 20-point plan. Key unresolved issues include the total withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, Hamas relinquishing control of the territory, disarming and decommissioning the militant group, and transferring Gaza’s governance to an international trusteeship overseen by the U.S. and Arab allies. Javid Ali, former senior director for counterterrorism at the National Security Council, highlighted the complexity of demilitarizing Hamas and the uncertainty regarding which entity will oversee this process—whether the Israel Defense Forces or a yet-to-be-established international security body. Ali noted historical precedents where rebel groups, such as the Irish Republican Army and Colombia’s FARC, eventually cooperated with peace accords after prolonged conflicts, underscoring the necessity of accounting for fighters and ensuring they are disarmed to prevent future militant actions. Tensions remain fragile, as illustrated by accusations from the Hostage Families Forum that Hamas violated the ceasefire by releasing only four of the 28 hostages who died in captivity, calling for immediate corrective action. Additionally, on October 14, both Hamas and the Israel Defense Forces accused each other of ceasefire violations following an incident in which IDF troops killed five Palestinians. The IDF alleged that Palestinians crossed a designated boundary and approached soldiers, while Hamas denied these claims and accused the IDF of attacking Palestinians with shelling and gunfire. Analysts like Andrew Miller of the Center for American Progress note the international community’s strong opposition to resuming hostilities, especially after the hostages’ release. Mick Mulroy, ABC News national security and defense analyst and former deputy assistant secretary of defense for the Middle East, stressed that the ceasefire plan’s success hinges on both sides adhering to their commitments, warning that any breach could jeopardize the entire agreement. During his speech at the peace summit, Trump expressed optimism about the durability of the peace deal, remarking that it took 3,000 years to reach this point and asserting confidence that the agreement will hold. The peace summit in Egypt, attended by over 20 world leaders, marks the beginning of a complex and delicate process aimed at securing lasting peace in a region long plagued by conflict. While the initial steps have been historic, the coming months and years will require sustained diplomatic efforts, security arrangements, and political compromises to transform the ceasefire into a durable peace.