United States (US) President, Donald Trump, on Monday declared that "the war is over" as he travelled to Israel for the release of hostages from Gaza under a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.
Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump said the truce would hold and that a "Board of Peace" would soon be established to oversee Gaza’s reconstruction, describing the enclave as a "demolition site," according to local reports.
The ceasefire, which took effect on Friday, marks the first phase of a 20-point peace plan brokered by Washington.
Under the agreement, Hamas is expected to release all remaining Israeli hostages by midday local time (10:00 BST), including 20 believed to be alive and the remains of up to 28 others.
The reports insisted that Israel is due to release about 250 Palestinian prisoners and 1,700 detainees from Gaza once the hostages are safely returned, saying increased humanitarian aid is also expected to flow into the territory.
Trump, commending Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Qatar for their roles in securing the deal, said: "Everybody is happy, and I think it’s going to stay that way. I’m good at solving wars. I’m good at making peace."
Following his visit to Israel, where he is scheduled to address the Knesset, Trump will travel to Egypt for an international summit in Sharm El-Sheikh aimed at formally ending the conflict. Egypt’s foreign ministry said a "document ending the war in the Gaza Strip" is expected to be signed.
The meeting will be attended by leaders from more than 20 countries, including the United Kingdom (UK) Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
Recall that conflict began on 7 October 2023 when Hamas launched attacks in southern Israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages.
Israel’s military response has since left more than 67,000 Palestinians dead, including over 18,000 children, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
Despite the ceasefire, humanitarian conditions in Gaza remain critical. Aid trucks began entering the Strip on Sunday, but the United Nations (US) says at least 600 are required daily to meet basic needs.
Palestinians returning to northern Gaza have reported extensive destruction, with many homes reduced to rubble. Local aid groups estimate that 300,000 tents are needed to shelter 1.5 million displaced residents.
Internal tensions have also been reported in Gaza, where at least 27 people were killed in clashes between Hamas security forces and armed members of the Dughmush clan in Gaza City, one of the deadliest confrontations since major Israeli operations ended.
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