United States President Donald Trump is on a highly significant, eight-hour whirlwind diplomatic visit to Israel and Egypt to mark the ceasefire and advance the second phase of the 20-point comprehensive plan to end the Gaza conflict, which he presented on September 29.

Markedly, just before Trump arrived at Ben Gurion airport near Tel Aviv, Hamas handed over seven of the 20 living hostages to the Red Cross. The remaining 13 have since been released. The trip was tightly scheduled to coincide with the release of the hostages, followed by Trump’s address to the Knesset, a meeting with the families of the hostages, and a visit thereafter to Sharm el-Sheikh for the US-Egyptian-led peace summit.

The return of the hostages after two years in captivity has triggered an outpouring of emotion an

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