A photo collage of the 48 remaining hostages at the so-called "Hostage Square" in Tel Aviv: 20 of them are said to be alive, the other 28 are dead.

DLNews World at War:

A Fragile Dawn: Israel and Hamas Edge Toward Peace in Historic Deal

Tel Aviv/Washington – The world stands still, watching history unfold. After years of relentless conflict and despair, Israeli hostages held by Hamas are expected to be released Monday morning—an event that may mark the end of war in Gaza and the beginning of an uncertain peace. It is a diplomatic breakthrough that few dared to predict.

“Blessed are the peacemakers,” US President Donald Trump declared, quoting the Gospel of Matthew as he announced what he called a “spectacular peace deal” between Israel and Hamas. The phrase carried a mix of triumph and self-reference, but the credit, by most accounts, extends far beyond the Oval Office.

Kushner and Witkoff

The pivotal work was done by a small but determined team: US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law and longtime Middle East strategist. Kushner, a key architect of the 2020 Abraham Accords that normalized relations between Israel and several Arab states, once again became the quiet conduit between opposing sides. Using his extensive network in the region, he helped bring Arab governments, including Qatar and Saudi Arabia, into the negotiations.

Ivanka Trump converted to Judaism before marrying Jared Kushner in 2009 – pictured here with her sons Theodore and Joseph at Donald Trump's inauguration.

Kushner and Witkoff, both real estate magnates turned dealmakers, set up an impromptu command center to manage last-minute communications with mediators. After Israel’s failed attempt to assassinate Hamas leaders on Qatari soil, tensions among US allies reached a boiling point. Rather than collapse, Kushner used the crisis to persuade Qatar to distance itself from Hamas in exchange for American-backed security assurances. Israel followed with an unexpected apology to Doha, a rare gesture in the geopolitics of the region.

By Sunday night, the outlines of peace were set: Hamas would release all remaining hostages, Israel would halt military operations, and mediators from the Gulf would guarantee compliance. The guns were expected to fall silent by Monday morning.

Yet even as the world celebrates, experts warn that lasting peace in the Middle East requires more than a single accord. The disarmament of Hamas, the reconstruction of Gaza, and the question of long-term governance remain unresolved. Much will depend on whether Washington—and Trump himself—has the stamina for sustained diplomacy in one of the world’s most volatile regions.

For now, the planet holds its breath. After years of war, there is, at last, a fragile glimpse of peace.