20 Hamas Hostages Return Home After 738 Days: Victory for Trump’s 20-Point Peace Agreement
October 13, 2025 | Jerusalem / Gaza City
In a landmark development that rekindled hopes for peace in West Asia, 20 Israeli hostages held by Hamas for over two years were released on October 13, 2025. The exchange, mediated under former U.S. President Donald Trump’s 20-Point Peace Agreement, was hailed internationally as a major diplomatic breakthrough after years of conflict.
A Long-Awaited Homecoming
The hostages had been captured during the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks and were kept in underground tunnels across Gaza. Their release, part of the Israeli operation “Returning Home,” was coordinated by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
Israeli forces escorted the freed captives from Gaza into Israel, where emotional reunions took place after 738 days of captivity. Families described the moment as “a miracle that ended a nightmare.”
The Exchange Terms
In a carefully negotiated exchange, Israel freed nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners from its jails in Gaza and the West Bank. The agreement also included the return of 28 bodies of victims to be handed over in a subsequent phase.
Trump, who personally attended the exchange ceremony in Jerusalem, called it “a breakthrough moment for peace” during his address to the Knesset, emphasizing that diplomacy “works when backed by courage and clarity.”
Victory for Trump’s 20-Point Peace Plan
The successful exchange is being viewed as the first major implementation of Trump’s 20-Point Peace Agreement, unveiled earlier in 2025 as a blueprint to end hostilities between Israel and Hamas.
Key highlights of the plan include:
-
Establishing a permanent ceasefire monitored by international forces.
Mutual release of all hostages and detainees.
-
Phased reconstruction of Gaza funded by a U.S.-led international consortium.
-
Creation of a demilitarized border corridor between Gaza and Israel.
-
Formation of a joint humanitarian oversight committee involving the U.S., Egypt, and Qatar.
Trump stated that the release “proves that when nations choose negotiation over escalation, peace is possible.” U.S. diplomats described it as a rare triumph for American-led peace efforts in the Middle East after years of stalled negotiations.
Reactions Across the Region
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed the operation as “a moment of national relief”, thanking both the United States and Egypt for their roles in ensuring a smooth handover.
Palestinian officials welcomed the release of prisoners but warned that “true peace will depend on justice and sovereignty.”
International observers, while optimistic, noted that the ceasefire remains fragile amid sporadic tensions and mutual distrust.
A Cautious Step Toward Peace
The Vantage on Firstpost episode, titled “20 Hamas Hostages Return Home after 738 Days,” framed the event as both a humanitarian milestone and a test of diplomatic resolve. Host Palki Sharma Upadhyay remarked that the day symbolized “a pause in pain, not the end of conflict.”
For the families, the moment marked closure after two years of despair. For Washington, it signaled a revival of American influence in Middle Eastern peace efforts. But for the region, it remains a fragile calm, where the hope for lasting peace continues to flicker — delicately balanced between promise and peril.
Conclusion: The Way Forward for Palestinian Statehood and Israel’s Coexistence
The release of the hostages and the success of Trump’s peace deal have reopened a critical dialogue about Palestinian statehood and Israel’s long-term security.
Experts agree that for peace to endure, both sides must move beyond short-term truces and confront the core political questions that have divided them for decades.
A two-state framework, rooted in mutual recognition and security guarantees, remains the only viable path forward. For Palestinians, it means genuine progress toward sovereignty, economic stability, and self-governance. For Israel, it ensures regional legitimacy, safety from militant threats, and the possibility of normalized relations with Arab neighbors.
International actors — including the U.S., Egypt, Qatar, and the European Union — are now being urged to institutionalize the ceasefire mechanisms and create an environment for direct political dialogue.
Ultimately, sustainable coexistence will depend not on military might but on political courage, empathy, and the will to compromise. The events of October 2025 may yet be remembered not just as the end of captivity for a few, but as the beginning of liberation for an entire region seeking peace.
0 Comments
premkumar.raja@gmail.com