In a historic moment for the Middle East, US President Donald Trump announced the ‘dawn of a new Middle East’ as he presided over the signing of a landmark ceasefire agreement on October 13. The agreement, formalized in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, brought an end to a two-year-long devastating conflict between Israel and Hamas. The signing ceremony saw Trump joined by leaders and mediators from Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, symbolizing a united effort towards peace. Earlier, addressing the Israeli parliament, Trump lauded the deal as a triumph of persistent diplomacy. The agreement’s implementation triggered emotional responses across the region. In Israel, 20 freed hostages were transported to hospitals for reunions with their families after over two years in captivity, while the remains of deceased hostages were handed over to the Red Cross. Simultaneously, celebrations erupted in the West Bank and Gaza as 250 Palestinian prisoners and over 1,700 administrative detainees were released from Israeli custody. Buses carrying the freed individuals were greeted by jubilant crowds, with families embracing relatives they had not seen for years. Dr. Daniel Trotzky, medical deputy director of Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, emphasized the long road to recovery for the freed hostages, noting their stable condition and the multidisciplinary support they are receiving. In Washington, the Trump administration received widespread, though not unanimous, praise from former top US officials, including Hillary Clinton, Condoleezza Rice, and Kamala Harris, for its role in brokering the deal. As the region begins to heal from the scars of conflict, a sense of profound relief and cautious optimism prevails.