Trump says ‘war is over’ in Gaza as Israel waits for hostages to be released | Donald Trump

Donald Trump said Sunday as he headed to Israel that the war in Gaza was over and the Middle East would “go back to normal,” as he waited for Hamas to release Israeli hostages while world leaders met to discuss next steps toward peace.

“The war is over, you understand that,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One as he began a flight from Washington, D.C., to Israel.

In response to a question about the future prospects of the region, Trump said: “I think it will return to normal.”

The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza held for a third day on Sunday ahead of the expected release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners and Trump’s scheduled speech to the Israeli parliament.

Thousands of Palestinians continued to head north towards Gaza City, which has been the focus of Israeli attacks over the past two months, hoping that a ceasefire would end the war.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a televised statement, “Tomorrow is the beginning of a new path. A path of construction, a path of healing, and I hope it will be a path of uniting hearts.”

This optimism was widely shared.

“There is a lot of joy among the people,” said Abdo Abu Saada, a Gaza resident, adding that the joy was tempered by fatigue after two years of war that destroyed much of Gaza.

Government spokesman Shosh Bedrosian said Israel expects to begin releasing the hostages early Monday morning, with the 20 living hostages released together.

She added that if the hostages are released earlier, Israel is ready to receive them. Their release is scheduled to be followed by the handover of the bodies of the remaining 28 hostages.

Under the ceasefire agreement, Hamas is scheduled to release the remaining hostages by Monday afternoon. They were captured on October 7, 2023 when the group’s militants launched a surprise attack on Israel, igniting the war.

Israel is also scheduled to release 1,700 Palestinians detained in Gaza since October 7, 2023, and 22 Palestinian minors, along with the bodies of 360 militants. Bedrosian said that the prisoners will be released as soon as the living hostages reach Israeli territory.

Israeli hostage affairs coordinator Gal Hirsch said on Thursday that a task force would be formed to help find the remains of any dead hostages that Hamas could not locate.

Trump is scheduled to arrive in Israel on Monday to address the Knesset, before traveling to Sharm El-Sheikh in Egypt to attend a summit of world leaders on ending the Gaza war.

Mahmoud Abbas, president of the Palestinian Authority, will also attend the summit, an Axios reporter said on Sunday, citing a senior Palestinian official.

Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner addressed a rally in Tel Aviv on Saturday, which many Israelis hope will be the last to urge the release of hostages and an end to the war. The United States, along with Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, mediated what was described as a first-stage agreement between Israel and Hamas for a ceasefire and the release of Hamas hostages and prisoners and detainees held by Israel.

“For two years we have [have been] Dalia Youssef, a demonstrator, said, thanking Trump: “We are waiting for this day for this moment… We all feel happy for the family, for the hostages, because finally… we will see them.”

Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz said that once the hostages are returned, the army will destroy the underground tunnels built by Hamas in Gaza. Palestinians returning to northern Gaza described widespread destruction. Rescue workers warned of the possible presence of unexploded ordnance and bombs in the area.

Amjad Shawa, who heads a Palestinian organization that coordinates with relief organizations, estimates that 300,000 tents are needed to temporarily shelter 1.5 million displaced people from Gaza.

“We couldn’t believe the devastation we saw,” Rami Muhammad Ali, 37, said by phone after walking 15 kilometers (9.5 miles) with his son from Deir al-Balah to Gaza City.

“We are happy to return to Gaza [City] “But at the same time we have bitter feelings about the destruction,” he added, describing seeing human remains scattered along the roads.