In Egypt, Trump touts 'phase 2' of ceasefire deal after Hamas releases living Israeli hostages

(OSV News) -- President Donald Trump said during a meeting in Egypt on Oct. 13 that "phase two has started" of a peace deal between Israel and Hamas in response to a question from a reporter about when the next stage of negotiations would begin.

In advance of the release of the living hostages, Pope Leo XIV urged true reconciliation in the region.

Earlier the same day, Trump said it was the "dawn of a new Middle East" in remarks before the Israeli parliament Oct. 13 after Hamas freed what are believed to be all of its living hostages and as Israel released Palestinian prisoners in a preliminary agreement on the White House's ceasefire deal.

"This is not only the end of the war, this is the end of an age of terror and death, and the beginning of the age of faith, of hope, and of God," Trump told Israel's Knesset.

The remains of some of the deceased hostages were transferred to the custody of the Red Cross. Hamas released just four of the deceased, prompting some anger from advocates of the hostages' families and concern about Hamas following through on their commitment to do so.

During his remarks, Trump said, "This long and difficult war has now ended," although many details of a long-term plan remain subject to negotiation.

"Israel has won all that can be won by force of arms," he said. "Now, it is time to translate these victories … into the ultimate prize of peace and prosperity for the entire Middle East."

After Trump said the events of the day marked "phase two" of the ceasefire while in Egypt during a meeting with Egyptian President Abel Fattah el-Sisi, Trump added, "And you know, the faces are all a little bit mixed in with each other. Gonna start cleaning up ... if you look at Gaza, it needs a lot of clean up."

At a summit with world leaders in Egypt, Trump said, "Those prayers of millions have finally been answered."

"As you know, the hostages have been returned, and further work goes on, having to do with the -- sadly to say -- bodies," he said. "Together, we've achieved what everybody said was impossible ... Now the rebuilding begins. The rebuilding is maybe going to be the easiest part. I think we've done a lot of the hardest part because the rest comes together."

In an Oct. 12 post on X, Pope Leo said, "In recent days, the agreement to begin the peace process has brought a spark of hope to the Holy Land."

"I encourage the parties involved to continue courageously along the path that has been set out, toward a just, lasting, and respectful Peace that honors the legitimate aspirations of both the Israeli and the Palestinian peoples," he said. "Let us ask God, the only true Peace of humanity, to heal all wounds and to help, by His grace, accomplish what now seems humanly impossible: to rediscover that the other is not an enemy, but a brother or sister to look upon, to forgive, and to offer the hope of reconciliation."

Prior to the meeting of world leaders, Father Gabriel Romanelli, the pastor of Gaza City's Catholic parish, said on social media the entire enclave has experienced a "tsunami" of destruction.

In an Oct. 13 post on X, Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said, "The ceasefire between Israel (and) Hamas and the release of all hostages gives hope for what comes next after unbearable suffering."

"We must now ensure full humanitarian access in Gaza and a path to a two-state solution where Israelis (and) Palestinians can live in security and dignity," she said.

At the summit, Trump, el-Sisi, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani formally signed the Gaza ceasefire agreement, as other world leaders, including British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emannual Macron, looked on.

Some of the details of that agreement were still unclear Oct. 13. But a photographer in attendance captured an image of a document that read: "We seek tolerance, dignity, and equal opportunity for every person ensuring this region is a place where all can pursue their aspirations in peace, security, and economic prosperity, regardless of race, faith, or ethnicity."