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

US President Donald Trump said the “war is over” while traveling to Israel to release Gaza hostages according to the fire termination transaction agreed between Israel and Hamas.

As he spoke on board Air Force One, he said that the ceasefire would stay and a Gaza would quickly be created a “board of peace”, which he believes seems like a “place of demolition”.

He also praised the roles of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Qatar, one of the intermediaries.

The Hamas deadline to release all the hostages he still holds in gas is lunch local time (10:00 BST). Later on Monday, Trump will travel to Egypt for an international summit meeting that aims to end the war.

The war was triggered by the attacks led by Hamas against southern Israel on October 7, 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 hostages taken.

Since then, over 67,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israel’s military response, including over 18,000 children, says Hamas Health Ministry.

The cessation of the fire in Gaza came into force on Friday morning after Israel and Hamas agreed to the first phase of the 20-point peace plan, mediated by Trump, with the next phases still negotiated.

It is believed that twenty of Israeli hostages are alive, and Hamas also has to hand over the remains to up to 28 deceased hostages.

Israel also needs to release about 250 Palestinian prisoners and 1700 detained from gas, while increased amounts of help should enter the tape. A spokesman for the Israeli government said they would be released after living hostages reach the Israeli territory.

Asked by the BBC if he believed that the cessation of the fire would hold on, Trump said it would be, adding “everyone is happy and I think it will remain so.”

He said to his peaceful skills, “I’m good at solving wars. I’m good in peace.”

Asked if he would ever visit Gaza, Trump said he would do it. “I would at least like to put my feet on it.” Trump said he thinks Gaza would be a “miracle” in the coming decades.

He added that the region would soon “normalize” with the planned supervisory authority – the Council of Peace – to be created “very quickly” to observe the gas.

On Saturday, hundreds of thousands of Israelis attended a rally in Tel Aviv and chanted their gratitude to the American leader.

Many details about the short stages of the peace plan could be difficult to reach an agreement – such as gas management, the degree of withdrawal of Israeli troops and disarming Hamas.

Trump will land in Israel on Monday, where he will turn to the country’s parliament The Knessset.

He will then travel to lead a summit in Sharm El-Sheikh with Egypt President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi.

The Foreign Ministry of Egypt said it is expected to be signed a “document, termination of the war in the Gaza Strip”.

Leaders from more than 20 countries are expected to attend, including the United Kingdom Prime Minister Sir Kiir Starmer and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

Iranian Abbas Aragchi Foreign Minister said Egypt invited Iran to the summit, but “neither the President Petshkin, nor can I commit to colleagues who have attacked the Iranian people and continue to threaten and sanction us.”

In an X publication, he added: “Iran welcomes any initiative that ceases Israel’s genocide in gas and guarantees the ejection of occupation forces.”

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said that after the hostages were returned, the military would destroy the underground tunnels in Gaza built by Hamas.

Help trucks began to enter Gaza on Sunday, and hundreds were queued at the border.

The Palestinians were gathering around the convoys arriving in Han Eunice, South Gaza.

Speaking to the BBC early on Sunday, James Elder of UNICEF said dozens of trucks had entered the lane, but that this was not necessary.

The UN estimates that at least 600 trucks are needed every day to begin to turn to the Gaza’s humanitarian crisis.

In August, the integrated classification of the Food Security Phase (IPC) announced hunger in parts of the territory, including the city of Gaza.

However, Israel rejects the IPC report, and its foreign ministry says the conclusions are “based on Hamas.” The Israeli Military Aid Authority Cogat says the report ignores “the vast humanitarian efforts made in gas.”

The Palestinians who return to North Gaza have described scenes of devastation, many of which find that their homes are reduced to ruins. Rescue workers have warned that there may be unexplored orders and bombs in the area.

Amjad Al Shava, who heads the Palestinian organization coordinating with help groups, needed 300,000 tents to temporarily accommodate 1.5 million displaced Gazani.

Hamas recalled about 7,000 members of his security forces to confirm control of Gaza areas recently released by Israeli troops, according to local sources.

At least 27 people were killed in fierce clashes between Hamas’s security forces and armed members of the Dugmush family in Gaza, in one of the most native internal confrontations from the end of major Israeli operations in the enclave.