U.S. President Donald Trump declares “The war is over” before attending the Gaza peace summit in Egypt, as Israel, Hamas, and world leaders move toward a 20-point peace deal to end two years of deadly conflict.
In a dramatic declaration that could reshape the Middle East, U.S. President Donald Trump announced, “The war is over,” as he departed for Egypt to attend an international summit on the Gaza peace process. The meeting, to be held in the coastal city of Sharm El-Sheikh, marks what may become the first major diplomatic achievement of Trump’s second term, following his success in compelling both Israel and Hamas to agree to a 20-point peace deal designed to end the two-year-long Gaza conflict.
Before reaching Egypt, Trump was scheduled to make a brief stop in Israel, where he would meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and address the Knesset, Israel’s parliament. The visit follows a ceasefire that took effect on Friday, halting years of fighting that began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas militants launched a surprise attack on Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages.
Under the new peace arrangement, Hamas has agreed to release the remaining Israeli hostages through the Red Cross on Monday. The group has already freed several hostages in previous deals in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. Monday’s handover is expected to include 20 living captives and the remains of about 20 others who died while in custody.
According to Gaza health officials, Israel’s retaliatory strikes have killed around 67,000 Palestinians since the conflict erupted. The peace deal — brokered with the help of Egypt, Qatar, and Türkiye, and facilitated by senior American figures including Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner — has been hailed as a breakthrough moment for the region.
International leaders attending the summit include UN Secretary-General António Guterres, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, French President Emmanuel Macron, and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, along with officials from Qatar and the UAE. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was invited by co-chairs Trump and el-Sisi but declined to attend, sending Minister Kirti Vardhan Singh in his place.
Trump expressed optimism that the ceasefire and subsequent peace phases would hold, noting the rare simultaneous celebrations in Israel and Arab nations. “Everyone was cheering at one time — that’s never happened before,” he said. “Usually if one side cheers, the other is mourning.” Trump cited “500,000 people” celebrating in Israel and similar joy “in Muslim and Arab countries,” calling it a “new moment of unity.”
Egypt’s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty echoed Trump’s confidence, stating that Egypt and Jordan are preparing to train and deploy a 5,000-member Palestinian security force in Gaza as part of the peace plan’s next phase. While not a UN peacekeeping operation, Abdelatty confirmed that Arab and Muslim nations — including Indonesia, which has pledged 20,000 troops — would contribute to the stabilization effort. He added that any international deployment would require Security Council endorsement.
Under Trump’s proposal, Gaza’s reconstruction will be overseen by a “Board of Peace” chaired by him, with former British Prime Minister Tony Blair managing its operations. The plan excludes Hamas from any political role in postwar governance, instead assigning administration to “qualified Palestinians and international experts.” The United Nations estimates that 80 percent of Gaza’s infrastructure has been destroyed by Israeli attacks, underscoring the massive challenge ahead.
Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump told reporters, “You have to get people taken care of first — but it’s going to start immediately.” As part of the agreement, Israel has reopened its borders to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza. The UN confirmed that trucks carrying food, medicine, and tents began entering the territory on Sunday.
However, tensions remain. In a televised address, Netanyahu insisted that Israel’s “military campaign is not over,” warning of “very big security challenges” ahead. He praised the return of the remaining hostages as a “historic event,” but emphasized that Israel “will continue to act” to prevent Hamas or other militant groups from regaining strength.
Israel’s military chief, Eyal Zamir, declared a “victory over Hamas,” crediting the outcome to “sustained military pressure and diplomatic efforts.” Yet he admitted Israel remains “in the midst of a multi-front war,” vowing to “reshape the Middle East and ensure the Gaza Strip no longer poses a threat.”
| Also Read: Afghan FM Muttaqi Warns of Alternatives if Pakistan Rejects Peaceful Ties |
Despite these uncertainties, the upcoming Sharm El-Sheikh summit represents the most significant diplomatic attempt yet to stabilize Gaza and restore peace to the region. If Trump’s ambitious plan succeeds, it could mark not only the end of a devastating war but also the beginning of a fragile new chapter in Middle East politics — one that hinges on international cooperation, humanitarian relief, and cautious optimism.
