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In today's issue:

▪ Trump in DC after whirlwind Middle East trip

▪ Mills set to jump into Maine Senate race

▪ AI bubble burst may loom

▪ Zelensky to meet Trump in Washington

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The first phase of President Trump’s peace framework for the war in Gaza has so far gone mostly according to plan, but what comes next to achieve longer-lasting peace in the region seems up in the air.

Trump returned to Washington early Tuesday after a whirlwind one-day trip to the Middle East that served as the culmination of his efforts to bring an end to the two-year-long war between Israel and Hamas.

After more than two years in captivity, the final 20 survivors who were still held by Hamas were released Monday. The militant group killed 1,200 people and took more than 250 hostage during its Oct. 7, 2023 attack.

Trump in a speech before the Israeli Knesset heralded the ceasefire and hostage release as the latest global conflict to end under his watch.

"Yesterday I was saying seven, but now I can say eight. The hostages are back. The hostages are back," he said.

Over the course of the war, more than 150 hostages were freed during ceasefires, either in the first two or the current one, and more than a half dozen were rescued during Israeli operations in Gaza, The Washington Post noted. More than 80 hostages were confirmed killed. Most of their bodies have been returned, but two dozen remain unaccounted for.

By most objective measures, the first phase of Trump’s 20-point plan went off without issue.

Israel withdrew from most of Gaza soon after both sides agreed to the deal, and much-needed aid, including food, water and medicine, started flowing into the territory. Hamas released its remaining living hostages within the 72-hour deadline, as Israel released 250 Palestinian prisoners and 1,700 people arrested after the Oct. 7 attack.

After meeting with members of the hostages’ families, Trump took a victory lap during his address before the Knesset, expressing confidence that the peace can last.

“Israel, with our help, has won all that they can by force of arms. You’ve won. Now, it is time to translate these victories against terrorists on the battlefield into the ultimate prize of peace and prosperity for the entire Middle East. It’s about time you were able to enjoy the fruits of your labor,” Trump said.

But what comes next isn’t so clear.

One aspect of this first phase has already become a point of contention — the release of the bodies of deceased hostages in Gaza. There were 28 bodies remaining in Gaza ahead of the deal, but Hamas has only released four of them to be turned over to Israel.

That isn’t too surprising, as Hamas had warned that finding the bodies of all the dead hostages would take time and was unlikely to be completed by the Monday at noon local time deadline.

But it is one delicate issue that could undermine efforts to keep the peace. Israel has been consistent throughout the war that returning the bodies of the dead was a prerequisite for ending the fighting.

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, a group of advocates and families of the hostages, signaled that the ceasefire should be suspended over Hamas’s failure to return all 28 bodies. The group has generally been a strong supporter of deals for a ceasefire and the release of hostages.

“Hamas’s violation of the agreement must be met with a very serious response from the government and the mediators,” the group said in a statement.

Trump’s full peace plan would also include major changes for the region that could take years to accomplish if they come to fruition. Perhaps the most significant aspect is Hamas agreeing to cede power in Gaza, where it has been in control for nearly two decades.

The plan calls for the Palestinian Authority, which governs the West Bank, to take control of Gaza after making a number of reforms. But Hamas hasn’t fully agreed to give up power or disarm, as is also required under the deal.

▪ The New York Times: "For Israel, Hamas and Trump’s peace plan, now comes the hard part."

▪ The Hill: Five notable moments from Trump’s Knesset speech.

Trump expressed optimism at a signing ceremony in Egypt associated with the Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreement, saying “It’s going to hold up,” though some experts and even allies have been more cautious.

“Disarming Hamas and making sure they never have a voice in the future of Gaza is going to require efforts by the region never known before,” Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said in a post on the social platform X.

Some internal Israeli divisions were also on display during Trump’s Knesset speech.

Two Knesset members were ejected while Trump spoke after they shouted slogans at him. Ayman Odeh, an Arab Israeli who is a member of the far-left Hadash Alliance, and Ofer Cassif, another member of the coalition, called for recognizing a Palestinian state and to “demand justice.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected the idea of recognizing a Palestinian state, despite Trump’s plan eventually envisioning one.

The prime minister of Qatar, who helped negotiate the deal, has said Israel and Hamas weren’t ready for a full agreement, so the more complex issues were postponed in the interest of getting the fighting to stop and the hostages released. But with those steps completed, several thorny issues loom.

Trump on Monday also leaned into domestic Israeli politics when he requested that Israeli President Isaac Herzog pardon Netanyahu to allow the prime minister to avoid trial in his bribery and fraud case.........

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