Trump says Hamas may release 20 hostages “a little early” under the agreement

US President Donald Trump said on Sunday that Hamas may release the 20 hostages it is holding “a little early.”

Trump spoke with reporters aboard Air Force One on his way to the Middle East, where he was asked about the latest developments on the hostages and when they might be released.

“So, they’re holding the hostages — I understand it’s all 20 of them — and maybe we’ll get them out a little early,” Trump said. “It was great to have them, actually, because we were involved, and they were in places you don’t want to know about.”

The president’s comments come as Hamas faces a deadline to return all remaining hostages to Israel, following the peace agreement that ended the two-year war between Israel and Hamas.

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The peace deal, brokered by President Trump, sparked celebrations across the region, which has been plagued by violence since the Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023.

Trump described the peace agreement as historic, saying it was the first time in 3,000 years that Jews, Muslims and Arab countries danced in the streets. He said that the agreement united countries that were once sworn enemies and that Egypt, Saudi Arabia and other regional powers “all joined this agreement.”

When Trump was asked about the fighting, he declared that the conflict had come to an end.

“The war is over,” the president said.

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He expressed confidence that the ceasefire would hold, saying that people were “tired” of centuries of conflict.

“Everyone knows their place,” Trump said, adding that peace “would be great for everyone.”

The president said the rebuilding of Gaza would begin quickly, though he warned that the area resembled a “demolition site.” He said the reconstruction would begin by removing unstable structures and restoring basic services before starting the long-term redevelopment process.

Trump also said that a new governing body known as a “peace council” would be formed soon, and international leaders would seek to participate. He mentioned Tony Blair as a possible participant but said he wanted to make sure the former British prime minister would be an “acceptable choice.”

Trump acknowledged that Hamas had begun forming a local police force and said the United States had given temporary approval to the effort to help maintain order. He estimated that Hamas had lost “probably 60,000 people” in the conflict and said ensuring safety with the return of civilians was now a priority.

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He praised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and described him as “the right person at this time,” revealing that Netanyahu had nominated him for the Nobel Peace Prize. Trump said that Netanyahu “did a very good job” during the conflict and that their relationship remained strong.

Trump also told reporters that the peace agreement between Israel and Hamas is the eighth war he has resolved, adding that he heard there is an ongoing war between Pakistan and Afghanistan now.

“I said I have to wait until I come back. I will do another job because I am good at resolving wars. I am good at making peace. It is an honor for me to do that,” he said. “You’ve saved millions of lives, millions of lives.”

Earlier Sunday, Vice President J.D. Vance warned that some hostages killed while in Hamas captivity may never be returned to their families.

“The reality is that some of the hostages may never come back, but I believe that with some effort, we will be able to get them back to their families so they can at least get closure,” Vance told Fox News. “Sunday Morning Futures.”

He continued, noting that while rescuing living hostages remains the Trump administration’s top priority, returning the remains of the dead is also an important effort to give families a chance to connect.

“We want to give these people the ability to have a proper burial with their loved ones who were killed by brutal terrorists, and that concerns us,” Vance said. “It’s important for families, and it will continue to be a focus, but it will take time.”

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But the vice president stopped short of confirmation, saying he believed most of the victims’ remains – but not all – would eventually be recovered.

Fox News Digital’s Taylor Penley contributed to this report.