By Zo Terrana
Staff Writer
In an effort to take steps to end the Israel-Hamas war, President Trump, along with leaders from Qatar, Egypt and Turkey, signed the “Trump Declaration for Enduring Peace and Prosperity” in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, on Oct. 13.
The signing ceremony of the ceasefire deal marked an official start to what is to be the beginning of lasting peace and a return of all the remaining Israeli hostages, along with the nearly 2000 Palestinian detainees.
According to Time Magazine, other world leaders were present at the peace summit. France’s Prime Minister, Emmanuel Macron, and Britain's Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, both remarked positively on the declaration.
“President Trump, this is your achievement. I thank you for your tireless efforts to deliver this moment,” Starmer stated at the summit while pledging to assist in the plan's full implementation.
President Macron also stated that the peace summit was a “historic day” for the people of Israel and Palestine. Before embarking from Egypt, Macron added, “Let us prepare for what comes next together with humility.”
The declaration, according to the White House, stated, “In this spirit, we welcome the progress achieved in establishing comprehensive and durable peace arrangements in the Gaza Strip, as well as the friendly and mutually beneficial relationship between Israel and its regional neighbors. We pledge to work collectively to implement and sustain this legacy, building institutional foundations upon which future generations may thrive together in peace.”
However, following the peace summit, various questions are still unanswered. Within the agreement, there is no information on a U.S. recognized Palestinian state nor a future of governance for Gaza, according to Time Magazine.
In President Trump’s initial 20-point peace plan, the groundwork was laid for a “self-determined” Palestinian statehood on X. This statement posted on X is counterintuitive, as Trump did not mention a Palestinian State during his address at the signing ceremony.
On Oct. 13, reporters questioned the president on a two-state solution. Trump stated, “I’m not talking about a single-state or double-state or two-state. A lot of people like the one-state solution, some people like the two-state solution. We’ll have to see.”
In progression toward an end to the Israel-Hamas war, both parties exchanged hostages and detainees in an effort to keep the peace deal intact. However, on Oct. 14, NPR stated Hamas accused Israel of violating the peace deal.
Israeli forces killed at least six Palestinians, according to a hospital morgue and Palestinian rescue services in the area within northern and central Gaza.
Israel's forces allegedly deemed the people they opened fire on a threat when the Gazans were approaching the line of control in Gaza. As the situation within Gaza complicates, the United Nations humanitarian office in Gaza said it was informed by an Israeli military agency that Israel would reduce allowed aid into Gaza due to Hamas allegedly not returning the bodies of the 24 dead hostages believed to be still within Gaza, according to NPR.
As of late Oct. 14, eight bodies have been handed over to Israel. Hamas has stated that it will take time to discover all the remains under the rubble of destroyed buildings by Israeli airstrikes. However, the day before Israel celebrated the return of 20 living hostages held by Hamas since Oct. 7, 2023, according to NPR.
Recently, one of four bodies returned by Hamas overnight was not of a known hostage, as stated by Israel. The Israel Defense Forces disclosed that forensic tests at the National Institute of Forensic Medicine determined that the fourth body did not match any of the other hostages. Israel has stated that Hamas has to return the deceased hostages, according to Time Magazine.
The ceasefire agreement provisions stated, for every Israeli body handed over by Hamas, Israel would return 15 Palestinian bodies. Israel has transferred 90 bodies to Gaza. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is advancing the civilian transfers. The hostage and deceased persons trades between Israel and Hamas have only complicated and intensified the fragile nature of the truce.
