Trump says the “war is over” in Gaza as he heads to Israel to release hostages

US President Donald Trump said the “war is over” as he traveled to Israel to release hostages from Gaza under a ceasefire agreement agreed between Israel and Hamas.

Speaking on Air Force One, he said the ceasefire would hold and a “peace council” would be quickly formed for Gaza, which he said looked like a “demolition site.”

He also praised the role of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Qatar, one of the mediators.

The deadline for Hamas to release all hostages it still holds in Gaza is midday local time (10:00 GMT). Later on Monday, Trump will travel to Egypt to attend an international summit aimed at ending the war.

The war was sparked by Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, in which approximately 1,200 people were killed and 251 were taken hostage.

The Hamas-run Health Ministry says that since then, more than 67,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israel’s military response, including more than 18,000 children.

The Gaza ceasefire went into effect Friday morning after Israel and Hamas agreed to the first phase of a 20-point peace plan brokered by Trump, with subsequent phases not being negotiated.

Twenty of the Israeli hostages are believed to be still alive, and Hamas is also set to hand over the remains of up to 28 deceased hostages.

Israel must also release about 250 Palestinian prisoners and 1,700 detainees from Gaza, while increasing amounts of aid must enter the Strip. An Israeli government spokesman said that they will be released as soon as the living hostages reach Israeli territory.

In response to a BBC question whether he believed the ceasefire would hold, Trump said it would hold, adding, “Everyone is happy, and I think it will stay that way.”

Regarding his peace skills, he said: “I am good at resolving wars. I am good at making peace.”

Asked if he would ever visit Gaza, Trump said he would. “I’d like to put my foot down on it, at least.” Trump said he believes Gaza will be a “miracle” in the coming decades.

He added that the region would “return to normal” soon, with a planned oversight body – the Peace Council – set up “very quickly” to oversee Gaza.

On Saturday, hundreds of thousands of Israelis attended a rally in Tel Aviv and chanted gratitude to the US President.

It may be difficult to reach agreement on many details of the later phases of the peace plan – such as the administration of Gaza, the extent of Israeli troop withdrawal, and the disarmament of Hamas.

Trump is scheduled to arrive in Israel on Monday, where he will address the country’s parliament in the Knesset.

He will then travel to chair a summit in Sharm El-Sheikh alongside Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.

The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that it is expected to sign a “document to end the war in the Gaza Strip.”

Leaders from more than 20 countries are expected to attend the conference, including British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said that Egypt invited Iran to attend the summit, but “neither President (Masoud) Pezeshkian nor I are able to deal with their counterparts who attacked the Iranian people and continue to threaten us and impose sanctions on us.”

He added in a post on the X website: “Iran welcomes any initiative that ends the Israeli genocide in Gaza and ensures the expulsion of the occupation forces.”

Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz said that once the hostages are returned, the army will destroy the underground tunnels built by Hamas in Gaza.

Aid trucks began entering Gaza on Sunday, and hundreds more lined up at the border.

Palestinians gathered around the convoys arriving to the city of Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip.

Speaking to the BBC earlier on Sunday, James Elder, from UNICEF, said that dozens of trucks had entered the Strip, but this number did not meet what was required.

The United Nations estimates that at least 600 aid trucks are needed daily to begin addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

In August, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) declared famine in parts of the Strip, including Gaza City.

But Israel rejects the international investigation committee’s report, and its Foreign Ministry says the conclusions are “based on Hamas’ lies.” The Israeli military aid agency Cogat says the report ignores “the extensive humanitarian efforts being made in Gaza.”

Palestinians returning to northern Gaza described scenes of devastation, with many finding their homes reduced to rubble. Rescue workers warned of the possible presence of unexploded ordnance and bombs in the area.

Amjad Shawa, who heads a Palestinian organization that coordinates with relief organizations, estimates that 300,000 tents are needed to temporarily shelter 1.5 million displaced people from Gaza.

Hamas has recalled about 7,000 members of its security forces to reassert its control over areas of Gaza from which Israeli forces recently withdrew, according to local sources.

At least 27 people were killed in violent clashes between Hamas security forces and armed members of the Dugmush family in Gaza City, in one of the bloodiest internal confrontations since the end of major Israeli operations in the Strip.