Trump declares Gaza war is 'over' as Israel, Hamas prepare for hostage-prisoner swap

Speaking to reporters ahead of his visit to Israel, Trump said he was confident the truce, which took effect days after the second anniversary of the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks, would hold.

“The war is over,” Trump told the media. “I think it’s going to hold.”

According to CNN, the agreement’s first phase will see the release of around 20 hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza, alongside nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees in Israel.

Trump is scheduled to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem on Monday and address the country's Parliament. He is also expected to meet families of the remaining hostages before traveling to Egypt for a high-level summit.

The summit, to be held in the Red Sea resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh, will be co-chaired by Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. Leaders from around 20 nations are expected to attend to discuss Gaza’s post-war reconstruction and future governance.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who arrived in Egypt ahead of the summit, wrote on X: “I’m in Egypt, where I’ll meet with international leaders to mark the first crucial step towards peace in the Middle East. The UK stands ready to support rebuilding Gaza and will work with partners to secure a stable future for the region.”

In Israel, crowds gathered at Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square in anticipation of the imminent release of hostages as part of “Operation Returning Home,” launched by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to facilitate their safe return.

“The military pressure we applied over the past two years, together with complementary diplomatic measures, constitute a victory over Hamas,” IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir said on X. “We will continue to act to ensure that Gaza no longer poses a threat to the State of Israel and its civilians.”