Israel, Oct 13 : As Israel and Hamas prepare to release hostages following two years of conflict, US President Donald Trump has declared that the war in Gaza is officially “over.” The President is en route to the Middle East for a brief but symbolic trip aimed at solidifying the recently announced Gaza peace deal.
“The war is over you understand that?” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One before take-off to Israel. Calling his trip “special,” he added, “Everyone’s very excited about this moment. This is a truly significant event.”
When asked whether he believed the ceasefire would hold, Trump said confidently, “I think it’s going to hold… I think people are tired.”
Trump is traveling with a high-level delegation, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and top military commander Gen. Dan Caine.
According to the White House schedule, Trump will land in Tel Aviv early Monday morning for his first visit to Israel and Egypt since announcing the ceasefire. His itinerary begins with a private meeting at the Knesset with families of hostages, followed by a public address to Israeli lawmakers.
Describing the moment as “very special,” Trump emphasized that his visit marks the beginning of Phase One of the 21-point Gaza Peace Plan, which focuses on disarming Hamas and restoring long-term stability in the region.
After completing his engagements in Israel, the President will head to Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, for a formal truce-signing ceremony later Monday afternoon. Egypt played a central role in brokering the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. While details of the agreement remain under wraps, the event is expected to serve as a symbolic affirmation of the deal.
The whirlwind tour will see Trump spend under seven hours in Israel and roughly three hours in Egypt before returning to Washington. In parallel, around 200 US troops are being deployed to establish a peace coordination centre as part of the agreement’s implementation.
The closed-door meeting with hostage families is expected to be one of the most emotional highlights of the trip. Trump is scheduled to return to the White House shortly after midnight on Tuesday.
The President’s Middle East visit, following earlier stops in Gulf states, underscores Washington’s renewed push to cement a lasting peace in Gaza and stabilize the broader region after years of conflict.