Key Takeaways:
- Ceasefire Declared: President Donald Trump announced Sunday that the war in Gaza is officially over, with both Israel and Hamas agreeing to the first phase of his U.S.-brokered peace deal.
- Hostages to Be Released: Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One that all 20 remaining hostages have been located and could be released ahead of schedule, saying, “They were in places you don’t want to know about, deep.”
- Peace and Prosperity Ahead: The agreement includes a full ceasefire, Israeli troop withdrawal from most of Gaza, and the release of Palestinian prisoners. Trump will meet world leaders in Egypt this week to solidify next steps for long-term peace and rebuilding.
President Donald Trump on Sunday declared “the war is over” in Gaza as he boarded Air Force One bound for Israel, marking what he called a “new era of peace” following the successful implementation of his ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas.
“The ceasefire will hold,” Trump told reporters, adding that “everybody is into this deal” and “everybody is happy.” The president credited strong U.S. diplomacy and firm leadership for bringing an end to months of conflict that left thousands dead and destabilized the region.
Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump revealed new details about the status of the remaining hostages held by Hamas. “They have the hostages, I understand all 20, and we may get them out a little bit early,” he said. “They were in places that you don’t want to know about, deep.”
Under the Trump-brokered agreement, Hamas is required to release all remaining hostages by noon local time Monday, while Israel will free 250 Palestinian prisoners and 1,700 detainees from Gaza, including nearly two dozen children. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the deal as “the beginning of a new path,” but cautioned that “very big security challenges” still remain.
Dozens of aid trucks have already crossed into Gaza through Egypt’s Rafah border, carrying food and medical supplies as part of the humanitarian provisions included in Trump’s plan.
After his visit to Israel, Trump will travel to Egypt for a summit of world leaders to discuss long-term stability and reconstruction efforts in Gaza.
“The war is over,” Trump reiterated. “We’ve brought the sides together, and now it’s time to build peace through prosperity.”