“The first steps to peace are always the hardest,” Trump had said as he stood with foreign leaders in Egypt on Monday for a summit on Gaza’s future. He hailed the ceasefire deal he brokered between Israel and Hamas as the end of the war in Gaza — and start of rebuilding the devastated territory.

Hamas freed the 20 hostages and Israel released some 2,000 Palestinian prisoners as part of a cease-fire.

Hamas released all 20 remaining living hostages on Monday as part of a ceasefire pausing two years of war that pummeled the Gaza Strip, killing tens of thousands of Palestinians.

Hamas has released all the Israeli hostages.

"On behalf of the entire people of Israel, welcome back!," the note - shared by the PM's office - reads. "We have been waiting for you, we embrace you. Sara and Benjamin Netanyahu."