United States President, Donald Trump, has declared that “the war is over” as he heads to Israel to oversee the release of hostages from Gaza under a newly implemented ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.
Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump expressed optimism that the ceasefire would endure and announced plans to establish a “Board of Peace” to oversee Gaza’s recovery, describing the territory as looking like a “demolition site.”
He also commended the roles of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Qatar, one of the mediators in the deal.
The deadline for Hamas to free all remaining hostages in Gaza is set for midday local time (10:00 BST).
Later on Monday, Trump is expected to travel to Egypt for an international summit aimed at formally ending the conflict.
The war erupted after the Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, which left about 1,200 people dead and 251 taken hostage.
In retaliation, Israel launched a large-scale military campaign that, according to the Hamas-run health ministry, has killed more than 67,000 Palestinians — including over 18,000 children.
The truce, which began on Friday morning, marks the first phase of a 20-point peace plan brokered by Trump. The subsequent stages are still under negotiation. Hamas is expected to release 20 living Israeli hostages and the remains of up to 28 others, while Israel is to free around 250 Palestinian prisoners and 1,700 detainees from Gaza.
An Israeli government spokesperson said these releases would occur once the freed hostages safely arrive in Israeli territory.
When asked by the BBC if he believed the ceasefire would hold, Trump replied confidently: “It would. Everybody is happy, and I think it’s going to stay that way.”
On his peacemaking abilities, he added: “I’m good at solving wars. I’m good at making peace.”
‘I’d like to put my feet on it’
Asked whether he would ever visit Gaza, Trump responded affirmatively: “I’d like to put my feet on it, at least.” He said he envisioned Gaza becoming a “miracle” in the coming decades and predicted the region would soon “normalise.”
He added that the proposed “Board of Peace” would be established “very quickly” to oversee Gaza’s transition.
On Saturday, hundreds of thousands of Israelis gathered in Tel Aviv to express their gratitude to the U.S. president, chanting his name during a rally.
Still, many aspects of the peace plan’s later stages remain contentious, including Gaza’s governance structure, Israel’s troop withdrawal, and the disarmament of Hamas.
Trump is due to arrive in Israel on Monday, where he will address the Knesset before heading to Sharm El-Sheikh to co-lead a summit with Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.
Egypt’s foreign ministry has announced that a “document ending the war in the Gaza Strip” is expected to be signed during the summit.
More than 20 world leaders are expected to attend, including UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed that Egypt had invited Iran to participate, but stated, “Neither President [Masoud] Pezeshkian nor I can engage with counterparts who have attacked the Iranian people and continue to threaten and sanction us.”
Posting on X, he added, “Iran welcomes any initiative that ends Israel’s genocide in Gaza and ensures the expulsion of occupation forces.”
Meanwhile, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said the military would move to destroy Hamas’ tunnel network once all hostages are released.
On Sunday, aid trucks began entering Gaza, with hundreds more queued at the border. Crowds of Palestinians gathered around the arriving convoys in Khan Younis, southern Gaza.
UNICEF spokesperson James Elder told the BBC that while some aid had entered, it remained far below what was required. The UN estimates that 600 trucks of supplies are needed daily to begin easing Gaza’s humanitarian crisis.
In August, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) declared a famine in parts of Gaza, including Gaza City.
Israel’s foreign ministry, however, dismissed the report, calling it “based on Hamas lies,” while its military aid body Cogat said it overlooked “extensive humanitarian efforts undertaken in Gaza.”
Returning residents of northern Gaza have found widespread destruction, with homes reduced to rubble. Rescue workers have warned of unexploded ordnance and bombs scattered across the area.
Amjad Al Shawa, head of a Palestinian organization coordinating with aid groups, estimated that 300,000 tents are needed to temporarily shelter the 1.5 million displaced people.
Local sources said Hamas had recalled about 7,000 of its security personnel to reassert control in areas vacated by Israeli troops.
However, at least 27 people were reportedly killed in violent clashes between Hamas security forces and armed members of the Dughmush family in Gaza City, one of the bloodiest internal confrontations since Israel’s major operations ended in the enclave.
