There have been celebrations across Israel and the Palestinian territories as a major hostage and prisoner exchange on Monday marked a significant step towards ending two years of war in Gaza.
In a crucial first phase of the US-brokered plan to end the war, Hamas returned all living Israeli hostages, while Israel freed almost 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees.
There were emotional scenes as families of the Israeli hostages screamed and cried with happiness as they embraced their freed loved ones.
And for the Palestinians who were freed from Israeli jails, huge crowds waving flags and playing patriotic music greeted them as they arrived on buses in Gaza and the occupied West Bank.
US President Donald Trump landed in Israel minutes after the first hostages were reunited with their families, and in a speech to Israel's parliament, the Knesset, declared a 'historic dawn in a new Middle East'.
He then flew on to a summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, to meet more than 20 leaders for talks on later phases of his Gaza peace plan.
At the summit, Egypt, Qatar, Turkey and the US signed a declaration as guarantors of the ceasefire deal aimed at ending two years of war that has left Gaza in ruins.
But amid diplomatic celebrations and reunions, many challenges lie ahead for building a lasting peace.
The latter phases of Trump's 20-point peace plan are fraught with sticking points, requiring intense negotiations to progress.
Monday's exchange completed the initial phase of the deal, which followed a ceasefire that took effect on Friday and saw an increase of humanitarian aid into Gaza over the weekend.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed hope for a future where peace prevails, while Palestinian sentiments reflected a desire for both joy and healing after years of conflict.
The challenges facing the peace process remind us that while a significant step has been taken, the journey towards reconciliation is just beginning.
