Crystal Dike
US President Donald Trump has declared that “the war is over” as he travels to Israel for the release of hostages under a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.
Speaking aboard Air Force One on Monday morning, Trump said the ceasefire would hold and announced plans to establish a “Board of Peace” to oversee the rebuilding of Gaza, which he described as a “demolition site.”
The ceasefire, which took effect on Friday morning, marks the first phase of a 20-point peace plan brokered by the United States. The next phases, including long-term governance and security arrangements for Gaza, are yet to be negotiated.
Under the current deal, Hamas is required to release all hostages by midday local time (10:00 BST) on Monday. Twenty of the Israeli hostages are believed to be alive, while the remains of up to 28 others are also expected to be handed over. In return, Israel is set to release around 250 Palestinian prisoners and 1,700 detainees from Gaza once the living hostages reach Israeli territory.
Trump praised the efforts of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Qatar, one of the mediators, for their roles in securing the agreement. “Everybody is happy, and I think it’s going to stay that way,” Trump told reporters. “I’m good at solving wars. I’m good at making peace.”
Asked whether he would visit Gaza, Trump said he would like to “put [his] feet on it, at least,” adding that he envisioned Gaza becoming a “miracle” in the coming decades.
The conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel killed about 1,200 people and took 251 hostages. In response, Israel launched a prolonged military campaign that has, according to the Hamas-run health ministry, killed more than 67,000 Palestinians, including over 18,000 children.
On Saturday, hundreds of thousands of Israelis gathered at a rally in Tel Aviv, chanting their gratitude to the US president for his role in ending the war.
Trump is expected to land in Israel later on Monday, where he will address the Knesset before traveling to Egypt for an international peace summit in Sharm El-Sheikh.
Egypt’s foreign ministry said a “document ending the war in the Gaza Strip” is expected to be signed at the summit, which will be attended by leaders from more than 20 countries, including UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed that Egypt invited Iran to the summit but said neither he nor President Masoud Pezeshkian would attend. “Iran welcomes any initiative that ends Israel’s genocide in Gaza and ensures the expulsion of occupation forces,” Araghchi posted on X.
The summit is expected to outline further steps toward the full implementation of Trump’s peace plan and the long-term reconstruction of Gaza.