Saturday, March 29, 2025
Donald Trump Declares Gaza War Over Before Departing for Middle East Peace Mission
Washington/Jerusalem |
U.S. President Donald Trump has officially declared the Gaza war over, announcing the end of hostilities just before departing on a crucial Middle East visit. The announcement comes as Israel and Hamas prepare to release hostages after more than two years of relentless conflict.
Trump is scheduled to make his first stop in Israel, where he may address the Israeli Parliament (Knesset). Following that, he will travel to Egypt to co-host the Gaza Peace Summit with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. Several world leaders are expected to attend the conference in Cairo, expressing support for Trump’s efforts to broker lasting peace in Gaza.
Speaking to reporters before boarding Air Force One, President Trump declared, “The war is over. You got that, right? It’s done.” He described his Middle East tour as “very special” and said that everyone involved was excited about this historic moment. “This is a very significant occasion,” he added confidently.
When asked whether he believed the ceasefire would hold, Trump replied, “Yes, I think it will. People are tired. They’ve had enough.”
However, the president admitted uncertainty about whether he would be present when the remaining 20 Israeli hostages are released. “They will be released much earlier,” he said, adding that “these people were kept in places you wouldn’t even want to know about.”
Trump is accompanied on his trip by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and senior military adviser Dan Kane.
Under the first phase of the Gaza Peace Agreement, Hamas will release all Israeli hostages captured during the October 7 attacks. In return, Israel will free around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners from its jails and allow humanitarian aid to flow freely into the Gaza Strip.
While the initial terms are clear, later stages of the agreement remain uncertain, with diplomats cautioning that negotiations are still ongoing behind closed doors.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the development a “victory,” saying the entire nation is eagerly awaiting the return of its hostages. “Together, we have achieved a great victory — one that has surprised the entire world,” Netanyahu said. However, he cautioned that “the fight is not yet over.”
Quoting the Bible, Netanyahu added, “Tonight is emotional, tearful, and yet full of joy. Our children are coming home.”
The declaration marks a pivotal moment in Middle East diplomacy, potentially reshaping the region’s future after years of violence and division.
