Trump Declares Gaza War Over, Heads to Israel for Hostage Releases
US President Donald Trump announced that the war in Gaza has ended and expressed confidence that a ceasefire will hold as he traveled to Israel on Monday. The trip coincides with preparations for the release of hostages held by Hamas, part of a US-backed deal aimed at resolving the conflict. Israeli authorities are gearing up to receive the remaining captives, with a deadline set for 12:00 local time (10:00 BST).
Israeli government spokesperson Shosh Bedrosian confirmed that agencies, in coordination with the Red Cross, are ready to process the arrivals. Officials expect all 20 living hostages to be transferred to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on Monday morning, though an exact time has not been specified.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said he would personally greet the released hostages upon arrival in Israel before heading to Egypt for a summit co-hosted with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. The summit aims to finalize a broader agreement to end the conflict. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the developments as the beginning of a new path but cautioned that significant security challenges lie ahead.
The hostage release is part of an exchange agreement under which Israel will free 250 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences and 1,722 detainees from Gaza, including nearly two dozen minors, held since the October 7 attacks. Hamas has proposed last-minute changes to the prisoner list, requesting the release of seven high-profile individuals, including Marwan Barghouti and Ahmad Saadat. The group indicated that freeing even two of these prisoners today would trigger the immediate release of all remaining hostages.
In Gaza, recent clashes between Hamas and a local clan in Gaza City have resulted in at least 27 deaths since major Israeli military operations concluded, according to local reports. Meanwhile, humanitarian efforts have intensified, with dozens of aid trucks entering the territory. Long lines formed at the Rafah crossing with Egypt as relief agencies rushed to deliver supplies during the ceasefire.
The hostage releases mark the first phase of a multi-step plan for Gaza, brokered in part by the United States. Trump’s itinerary includes landing in Israel on Monday morning, meeting with Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog, and then proceeding to Egypt for the Cairo summit with regional leaders. Israeli leaders are not scheduled to attend the Egypt meeting.
On Sunday, Hamas handed over seven Israeli captives to the Red Cross in Gaza and announced plans to release 13 more. Palestinian families, meanwhile, awaited news of mass prisoner releases from Israeli jails ahead of the Egypt summit. With approximately 11 hours remaining until the ceasefire deadline, negotiators continued to finalize the lists of names and logistical details for the transfers.
Officials noted that timelines could shift as lists are verified and transfers coordinated. However, the core sequence remains intact: hostages will be transferred to the Red Cross, prisoners will be released in stages, and the Cairo summit will solidify the next steps in the peace process.