A massive day and a massive step forward in the history of the Middle East today.

After a ceasefire came into effect at 12:00 (09:00 GMT) on Friday, Hamas has handed over all living hostages and started the process of returning the remains of the other hostages to Israel. The Israeli Military has confirmed that all 20 living hostages have been handed over. They were handed across to the Red Cross in 2 groups this morning.

In return Israel has agreed to the release of prisoners – including 250 Palestinian Prisoners serving life sentences in Israeli jails and 1,718 detainees from Gaza.

Ahead of the ceasefire, Israeli troops withdrew to a line which means they still have control of 53% of Gaza. This is the first step in three stages which will see the withdrawal of Israeli forces.

This is all part of President Trumps 20 point plan. A plan that, if both sides of the war agree to it, then the war would “immediately end”.

Credit really does need to go to the President Donald Trump and the Americans for what they have done to bring all sides together, bring a ceasefire, bring the hostages home and paint a brighter future for the region.

President Trump clearly is a man who wants to get things done. Yes there are questions on whether it could have been done quicker or not, but we are where we are. Trump used his contacts, he used his friends in the Middle East and Europe and brought the world together. This is only the first part of peace in this area. There is still a lot to do to properly bring peace and the two states to live side by side.

But the world wants it to work, and I think it more than ever might.

There is hope.

The guns and bombing have stopped. Aid has started to cross into the strip. There is hope.

The next part is a big part of the plan – to demilitarise Gaza. The aim that all “military, terror and offensive infrastructure” will be destroyed. But that will give hope and security to both the people of Israel and Gaza. No longer can the people of Gaza be used as human shields.

According to the plan, Hamas would play no future role in its governance, directly or indirectly. If all agreed, Hamas members would be offered amnesty if they committed to peaceful co-existence, or would be provided safe passage to another country.

The strip would be governed by the Palestinian Authority once itself has undergone reforms. Gaza would be initially governed by temporary transitional committee of Palestinian technocrats – overseen by a “Board of Peace” headed and chaired by Trump. One of those involved will be former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Time will tell if this all works, but it is a plan and there is hope.

Today is a great day. For everyone who is concerned about the region.

Israeli Families have got their relatives back.

Bombs aren’t dropping on Gaza.

Let’s hope and pray this continues. Let’s hope and pray that it works.

There is hope.