US President Donald Trump has declared the “war is over” in Gaza, expressing confidence that the ceasefire will hold as he travels to the Middle East to witness the release of hostages and co-host a landmark peace summit . “The war is over. The war is over. You understand that?” Trump stated to reporters aboard Air Force One, adding that he believed the ceasefire “is going to hold” because “people are tired” .
The pivotal moment comes as Israel awaits the release of the remaining hostages held by Hamas. Under the terms of the US-brokered ceasefire deal, the group has until 12:00 local time to complete the process . Hamas has published the names of the 20 living hostages slated for release, and the Israeli military has confirmed the release process is set to begin in northern Gaza .
In a parallel move, Israel is preparing to free 250 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences and 1,700 detainees from Gaza who were arrested after the October 7 attacks . The exchange is a key part of the first phase of the peace plan.
While Trump struck a definitive tone, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu offered a more cautious outlook. He stated that “tomorrow is the beginning of a new path” for Israel but warned that there are still “very big security challenges” ahead, noting that “the campaign is not over” .
President Trump’s itinerary includes a visit to Israel, where he will meet with the families of hostages and address the Knesset . He will then travel to Egypt to co-chair a “Summit for Peace” in Sharm el-Sheikh with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi . The summit aims to formally end the war and discuss the future of Gaza, with leaders from more than twenty countries, including the UK, France, and Germany, in attendance .
On the ground in Gaza, the ceasefire has allowed for a significant scale-up of humanitarian aid. Dozens of aid trucks have been seen queuing at the Rafah crossing with Egypt, bringing critical supplies of food, medicine, and shelter into the devastated territory . The United Nations has described “real progress” in aid operations and plans to expand its efforts to reach virtually everyone in Gaza .
The conflict, which was triggered by the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, has resulted in profound casualties and destruction over the past two years .
