By The Associated Press

In a critical day for the Middle East, Hamas released the 20 living Israeli hostages it still held and Israel released nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners under a breakthrough Gaza ceasefire deal .

U.S. President Donald Trump , whose administration brokered the deal, made a whirlwind visit to the region, first to Israel where he addressed the parliament to repeated applause. He landed Monday afternoon in Egypt for the “Summit of Peace” where world leaders are to discuss the ceasefire plan.

More ramped-up aid was being readied for Gaza, much of which is in ruins after two years of war that began when Hamas-led fighters attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people and taking 251 as hostages. In Israel’s ensuing offensive, more than 67,600 Palestin

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