DES MOINES, Iowa – Wednesday night, President Trump announced that the first phase of the peace deal had been reached between Israel and Hamas. According to the president, Hamas will release about 20 remaining living Israeli hostages early next week.

The potential of hostages being released is sparking hope throughout Iowa's Jewish community and allies. With local leaders saying this is the closest that Israel and Hamas have been to finally ending the war in Gaza, which just hit its two-year mark in early October. While the soon-to-be-released hostages have a long road to recovery, those leaders say that recovery extends to both Gaza and Israel.

"There's a rebuilding process both in Israel and in Gaza. And to have the support of the international community behind those rebuilding efforts

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