With ceasefire on shaky ground, Trump declares Gaza plan’s next phase
Major questions remain unanswered about Gaza’s future governance and security as negotiators turn their attention to the plan’s second phase.
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has declared the war between Israel and Hamas over, but what happens next will determine whether the ceasefire he brokered represents a turning point or merely a pause in the fighting.
“Phase Two begins right NOW!!!,” Trump said in a Truth Social post Tuesday afternoon.
“ALL TWENTY HOSTAGES ARE BACK AND FEELING AS GOOD AS CAN BE EXPECTED. A big burden has been lifted, but the job IS NOT DONE," Trump said in reference to the deceased hostages that Hamas has yet to turn over.
Relief swept through the region a day earlier as Hamas released the 20 living Israeli hostages to their families after 738 days in captivity. The militant group returned only four of the 28 bodies of deceased hostages by Monday's deadline, saying more time is needed to retrieve the rest. Israel turned over nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, many detained during the war without charge.
