US President Donald Trump announced that the war in Gaza had concluded as he departed for Israel, marking his first visit since brokering a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. During the visit, Trump is scheduled to address the Knesset and co-chair a high-level peace summit in Egypt.
Speaking to reporters, Trump said, “The war is over, you understand that.” When asked about the region’s future, he added, “I think it’s going to normalise.”
Aboard Air Force One, Trump credited Qatar for its role in mediating the Israel-Hamas ceasefire and praised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying he did a “very good job.” He revealed that some hostages might be released earlier than anticipated and announced the establishment of a “Board of Peace” to oversee Gaza’s reconstruction, describing the enclave as a “demolition site.”
Trump further stated, “Everybody is happy, whether it's Jewish or Muslim or the Arab countries. We are going to Egypt after Israel, and we are going to meet all of the leaders of the very powerful and big countries and very rich countries and others, and they're all into this deal.”
The US-brokered ceasefire, mediated with Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, held for a third consecutive day on Sunday, raising hopes for a lasting end to the conflict that began with Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.
Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi are set to co-chair a summit on Monday, in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, where over 20 world leaders, including representatives from France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Turkey, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and India, as well as UN Secretary-General António Guterres and European Council President António Costa, will finalise the peace deal framework and discuss Gaza’s post-war reconstruction.
According to the Egyptian presidency, the summit aims to “end the war in the Gaza Strip, enhance efforts to achieve peace and stability in the Middle East, and usher in a new era of regional security,” as reported. The Palestinian Authority confirmed to The Times of Israel that President Mahmoud Abbas will attend the summit, despite initial uncertainty.
However, Israel has consistently ruled out direct involvement in Gaza’s post-war governance. A senior Hamas leader said that the Palestinian militant group will not participate in the official signing of the Gaza peace deal in Egypt.
The ceasefire continued to hold on Sunday, with preparations underway for a hostage and prisoner exchange. Israel’s government spokesperson, Shosh Bedrosian, stated, “In the event that hostages are released earlier, Israel is ready to receive them,” confirming that 20 living hostages would be released early Monday morning, followed by the remains of 28 deceased hostages. Under the agreement, Hamas must release all remaining hostages by noon Monday (0900 GMT), while Israel will free 250 Palestinian prisoners, including those convicted of serious crimes, though senior Hamas commanders are excluded.
The Israel Prison Service has begun transferring some detainees to other facilities in preparation, and the Israeli government confirmed plans to release 1,700 Palestinians detained in Gaza since October 7, 2023, along with 22 minors and the bodies of 360 militants. Despite ongoing talks, negotiators have yet to agree on aspects of the plan’s later phases, including Gaza’s governance, the extent of Israeli troop withdrawal, and Hamas’s disarmament. Hamas’s prisoners’ information office noted that discussions with Israeli mediators continue to finalise details.
In a televised address on Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed optimism, stating, “Tomorrow is the beginning of a new path -- a path of building, of healing, and, I hope, of uniting hearts.” He declared “victory” over Hamas, adding, “On this day, and I hope also in the period that is almost upon us, we have all the reasons to set them aside, because with joint strength, we achieved spectacular victories, victories that stunned the entire world.”
Also Read: India’s role in the new Gaza peace
However, he cautioned, “The military campaign is not over. There are still major security challenges ahead of us. Some of our enemies are trying to recover in order to attack us again.” Netanyahu reiterated, “Tomorrow marks the beginning of a new road. A road of building, a road of healing, and, I hope, a road of unity.”
Thousands of Palestinians were reported moving north toward Gaza City, the epicenter of Israel’s two-month offensive, hoping the ceasefire signals a permanent end to hostilities. The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) announced the launch of Operation “Returning Home” to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas.
In a post on X, the IDF stated, “The IDF is now launching Operation 'Returning Home' to return our hostages from Hamas captivity. In a few hours we will all be reunited, one people, embraced and united.” Chief of the General Staff, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, confirmed the operation in a video statement.
Also Read: Gaza ceasefire seen as Israel’s ‘strangle contract’
Follow us
