Trump Honored at Massive Rally as Hostage Deal Looms in Gaza

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Growing Tensions and Hope Amid Ceasefire Developments

Hundreds of thousands of people gathered in Tel Aviv for a rally, marking a significant moment as the expected release of Israeli hostages by Hamas looms. The event was addressed by US special envoy Steve Witkoff, who declared that the hostages "are coming home" and credited Donald Trump with making the Gaza ceasefire and hostage return deal possible.

In Gaza, Palestinian officials reported that approximately 500,000 people had returned to northern Gaza in the past two days, following the withdrawal of Israeli troops. This movement highlights the complex situation on the ground, where many are trying to rebuild their lives amidst the destruction.

Egypt has confirmed its intention to host a summit aimed at finalizing an agreement to end the war. More than 20 leaders, including Trump, are expected to attend the summit in Sharm El-Sheikh. French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer have also been confirmed to travel to Egypt on Monday. Trump is set to visit Israel before heading to Egypt, with his daughter Ivanka and son-in-law Jared Kushner participating in the Tel Aviv rally on Saturday.

Under the ceasefire and hostage release deal announced on Thursday, Hamas was given 72 hours—until 12:00 local time (09:00 GMT) on Monday—to release all the 48 hostages it is still holding after two years of war. Twenty of these hostages are assumed to be alive.

Aviv Havron, whose family members were murdered and others kidnapped in the 7 October 2023 attack by Hamas, expressed the importance of the hostages returning to their families. He shared his personal tragedy, mentioning that seven of his family members were kidnapped, with four bodies still in Gaza.

Shulamit and David Ginat, who attended the Tel Aviv rally, emphasized the need to save all the hostages. They spoke about the desire to heal and stop the pain caused by the conflict. Many in the crowd cheered for Trump but also booed when Witkoff mentioned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The couple expressed anger towards Netanyahu over the failure to prevent the 7 October attack and the war, as well as the delay in bringing the hostages home.

"He wants to continue the war only because he wants to stay prime minister," David said.

Rising Concerns in Gaza

Hamas has mobilized fighters in Gaza as fears of internal violence grow. Local sources report that thousands of fighters have been called up to reassert control over areas recently vacated by Israeli troops. This move comes amid uncertainty about the future governance of Gaza and concerns over potential internal conflicts.

There have also been reports of armed clashes between Hamas and various clans in Gaza. Displaced Palestinians continue to move north in large numbers, often arriving to find their homes destroyed. Mosa Aldous, a lawyer, described the devastation, stating, "There is no house anymore. Everything is gone."

Raja Salmi, 52, shared her experience of finding her home destroyed upon returning to Gaza City's Rimal neighborhood. She described the emotional impact, saying, "I stood before it and cried. All those memories are now just dust."

Aid and Humanitarian Challenges

Under the terms of the ceasefire and hostage release deal, the amount of aid entering Gaza is expected to increase. However, the World Food Programme (WFP) reported that a surge of aid lorries had not yet entered Gaza, with only two to three lorries entering daily. The WFP aims to restore its regular food distribution system once full access is achieved, boosting aid through 145 distribution points across Gaza.

Cogat, the Israeli military body overseeing the entry of aid into Gaza, stated that 500 trucks had entered on Thursday, with around 300 distributed inside Gaza by the UN and other organizations.

A recent report by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), backed by the UN, estimated that 500,000 people in Gaza—equivalent to a quarter of the territory's population—are suffering from famine. Israel has repeatedly denied that starvation is occurring in Gaza, with Netanyahu attributing any hunger to the fault of aid agencies and Hamas.

The conflict has resulted in significant loss of life, with about 1,200 people killed and 251 taken hostage in the Hamas attack on 7 October 2023 on southern Israel. Israel responded with a military offensive that has led to the deaths of more than 67,000 Palestinians in Gaza, according to the territory's Hamas-run health ministry.

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