President Trump says 'war is over' in Gaza while en route to Israel to free hostages

US President Donald Trump visited Israel to release hostages in Gaza under a cease-fire agreement reached between Israel and Hamas, saying, “The war is over.''

Speaking on Air Force One, he said the ceasefire would remain in place and that a “peace committee” would soon be established in Gaza, which he described as a “demolition site.”

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

The deadline for the release of all hostages still held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip is noon local time (10:00 BST). Later Monday, President Trump will visit Egypt for an international summit aimed at ending the war.

The war was sparked by a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which killed around 1,200 people and took 251 hostages.

Since then, Israel's military response has killed more than 67,000 Palestinians, including more than 18,000 children, the Hamas-run Health Ministry said.

A ceasefire in the Gaza Strip took effect on Friday morning after Israel and Hamas agreed to the first phase of a 20-point peace plan brokered by President Trump, although negotiations on the next phase are still ongoing.

Twenty of the Israeli hostages are believed to be alive, and Hamas plans to hand over the remains of up to 28 dead hostages.

Israel should also release approximately 250 Palestinian prisoners of war and 1,700 detainees from the Gaza Strip and increase the amount of aid it provides to the Strip. An Israeli government spokesperson said the live hostages would be released once they reached Israeli territory.

Asked by the BBC if he thought the ceasefire would hold, President Trump said it would, adding: “I think everyone is happy and it will stay that way.”

Regarding his peace skills, he said, “I'm good at resolving wars. I'm also good at making peace.”

Asked if he planned to visit Gaza, President Trump said he intended to do so. “I'd like to at least put my feet on it.” President Trump said Gaza would be a “miracle” for decades to come.

He added that a peace commission, a watchdog body overseeing Gaza, would be established “very soon” and that the area would soon “return to normality.”

On Saturday, hundreds of thousands of Israelis took part in a rally in Tel Aviv, chanting thanks to the US leader.

Many of the details of the later stages of the peace plan, including the governance of Gaza, the extent of the Israeli military withdrawal, and the disarmament of Hamas, could be difficult to reach agreement on.

President Trump is scheduled to arrive in Israel on Monday and address Congress.

He will then travel to lead a summit in Sharm el-Sheikh with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

Egypt's Foreign Ministry said a “document ending the war in the Gaza Strip” was to be signed.

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

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that although Egypt had invited Iran to the summit, “Neither President (Masoud) Pezeshkian nor I can engage with a country that continues to attack the Iranian people, threaten us and sanction us.”

In a post on X, he added: “Iran welcomes all efforts to end Israel's genocide in Gaza and ensure the expulsion of the occupying forces.”

Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz said the military would destroy underground tunnels in the Gaza Strip built by Hamas if the hostages were returned.

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

Palestinians crowded around the convoy as it arrived in Khan Yunis, south of Gaza.

UNICEF's James Elder said in an interview with the BBC early on Sunday that dozens of trucks had entered the Strip, but not as much as was needed.

The United Nations estimates that at least 600 aid trucks are needed each day to begin addressing Gaza's humanitarian crisis.

In August, the Integrated Food Security Classification (IPC) declared famine in some areas, including Gaza City.

However, Israel rejects the IPC report, with the Foreign Ministry saying its conclusions are “based on lies by Hamas.” Kogat, an Israeli military aid group, said the report ignored “the extensive humanitarian efforts that have taken place in Gaza.”

Palestinians who have returned to northern Gaza say they have seen devastation, with many of their homes reduced to rubble. Rescue workers have warned that there may be unexploded ordnance or bombs in the area.

Amjad al-Shawa, head of a Palestinian group working with aid groups, estimates that 300,000 tents will be needed to temporarily house the 1.5 million displaced Gazans.

Hamas has recalled around 7,000 security forces to reassert control of the Gaza Strip, which was recently vacated by Israeli forces, local sources said.

At least 27 people have been killed in violent clashes between Hamas security forces and Dagmushu militants in Gaza City, in one of the most violent internal clashes since the end of Israel's major operation in the enclave.