Gaza ‘War Is Over’, Says Trump

Darwin, 13 Octobor— U.S. President Donald Trump declared on Sunday that the war in Gaza is “over,” expressing strong confidence in the ceasefire and hostage release deal his administration helped broker. Speaking aboard Air Force One en route to Israel, Trump described the agreement as a landmark moment for the region and expressed optimism that the deal would hold.

“This is a very special event,” Trump told reporters, adding, “The war is over. The war is over. OK? You understand that?”

The announcement comes just hours after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made it clear that, from his government’s perspective, the military campaign in Gaza is not yet finished. Netanyahu warned of “major security challenges” ahead, emphasizing that Israel had only approved the “first phase” of the U.S.-backed plan and had not agreed to end the war entirely.

Despite the disparity in messaging, Trump remained firm in his assessment. “I think it’s going to hold. I think people are tired of it. It’s been centuries,” he said, referring to the broader historical conflict in the region. He added that his administration had received “verbal guarantees” from both Israel and Hamas, as well as from regional powers, regarding the current phase and future steps of the agreement.

“We have a lot of verbal guarantees, and I don’t think they’re going to want to disappoint me,” Trump said.

A Brief Visit, a Big Message

Trump is scheduled to make a brief four-hour visit to Israel on Monday, where he will meet with Prime Minister Netanyahu, speak at the Knesset, and meet with families of hostages recently released under the deal. Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana extended the formal invitation, calling Trump “the greatest friend and ally of the Jewish nation in modern history.”

Trump will be only the fourth American president to address the Israeli parliament, following Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush.

Following his stop in Israel, Trump will travel to Cairo to co-host a regional summit alongside Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi. The summit will bring together over 20 world leaders in support of the peace initiative, though neither Israel nor Hamas will have official representation. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is expected to attend.

A Complex Path to Peace

The Trump administration unveiled a 20-point peace plan last month aimed at ending hostilities and laying the groundwork for Gaza’s reconstruction. While the ceasefire marks significant progress, many elements of the plan — including security arrangements, political governance, and reconstruction — remain unresolved.

A central component of the plan is the formation of a new governing body for Gaza, composed of Palestinian technocrats. Trump has proposed leading this body himself, with implementation to begin “very quickly.”

However, he appeared to step back from earlier suggestions of including former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, a controversial figure in the region due to his role in the Iraq War. “I’ve always liked Tony,” Trump said. “But I want to find out that he’s an acceptable choice to everybody.”

Trump also praised Qatar and Turkey for their roles in facilitating negotiations. “Qatar was a tremendous help in getting this done,” he said. “Turkey was fantastic too.”

A War-Torn Gaza and a Hopeful Vision

While acknowledging that Gaza currently “looks like a demolition site,” Trump said he hopes to visit the enclave in the future. “I’d like to put my feet on it at least,” he said. “I think there’s going to be a great miracle over the coming decades.”

Reflecting on the scale of support, Trump pointed to a mass rally held in Tel Aviv over the weekend, where hundreds of thousands gathered in support of the hostage deal. “Everybody’s cheering at one time. That’s never happened before,” he remarked.

Analysis

Though Trump’s declaration of an end to the war in Gaza is bold and potentially historic, the situation remains fragile. Israel’s cautious stance, the lack of formal disarmament, and unresolved issues around Gaza’s political future suggest that the conflict’s true end may still lie ahead.

As regional leaders gather in Egypt and the next phases of Trump’s plan unfold, the world watches closely to see whether this ceasefire will indeed mark the end of one of the most enduring and painful chapters in the Middle East.