U.S. President Donald Trump announced that the war in Gaza is “over”, expressing confidence in the newly brokered ceasefire and hostage release deal as he traveled to Israel to mark the agreement’s success. Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump said he had received “verbal guarantees” from both Israel and Hamas, ensuring the truce would hold.
The ceasefire, which began on Friday, follows years of violence since the Hamas attacks in October 2023. Despite Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stating that Israel’s military campaign is not fully concluded, Trump maintained that “people are tired of it” and emphasized that the focus should now shift toward rebuilding Gaza and securing peace.
Trump is scheduled to meet Israeli leaders and families of hostages in Jerusalem before addressing the Knesset, becoming only the fourth U.S. president to do so. His visit will be followed by a peace summit in Egypt, co-hosted with President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi, aimed at gaining international support for his long-term Middle East peace plan.
The president also praised Qatar and Turkey for their mediation efforts and indicated his desire to visit Gaza in the future, expressing optimism about its reconstruction and long-term stability.
