Trump claims Gaza war ended, hostages freed soon.
Donald Trump declared on Thursday that “we ended war in Gaza,” announcing that hostages held by Hamas are expected to be released early next week under a ceasefire agreement.
Trump made his remarks during a White House Cabinet meeting, stating that hostages would likely come home “Monday or Tuesday.” He also emphasised that the two-year war in Gaza has now concluded, asserting that the ceasefire deal and hostage exchange mark its formal end.
Under the agreement, Israel’s cabinet has ratified the deal, paving the way for hostilities to be suspended within 24 hours and for the hostages to be freed within 72 hours after that. According to the plan, Hamas must release Israeli captives—both living and deceased—while Israel begins a phased withdrawal of its military forces to an agreed line within Gaza. Netanyahu’s office said the framework approved by the Cabinet includes the release of all hostages.
While the new deal is being hailed by Trump as a diplomatic breakthrough, observers caution that many key details remain to be worked out. Critically, the longer-term governance of Gaza, the disarmament of Hamas, and the full extent of Israeli troop withdrawal are unresolved components of the broader peace framework.
In his remarks, Trump said he hopes to be present when the hostages return and indicated he would travel soon to the region. He also revealed that mediators from Egypt, Qatar and Turkey have played key roles in striking the deal. Officials from Cairo and Doha reportedly coordinated communication between Hamas and Israeli negotiators, while Turkish diplomats worked on finalising the prisoner-release lists and ceasefire sequence.
The war in Gaza, triggered by Hamas’s October 2023 attacks on Israel, has left a devastating humanitarian toll. More than 67,000 Palestinians have reportedly died during the conflict, while Israeli hostages were taken in that initial assault. Earlier phases of ceasefire and hostage-prisoner exchanges have already occurred, but none had achieved a full cessation of war until now.
The new peace plan, which Trump said will be formally signed in Egypt next week, includes security guarantees for Israel, humanitarian reconstruction for Gaza, and international monitoring of the ceasefire’s enforcement. Sources familiar with the negotiation said that the first stage involves a total cessation of airstrikes and rocket attacks, followed by the release of all hostages and prisoners. The second stage will initiate rebuilding projects in Gaza funded by an international coalition.
As the world watches, the success of this new agreement—and whether it will hold—depends on the immediate actions of all parties. The coming days will be a crucial test of whether this deal can anchor a durable peace or whether fragile truce terms will once again unravel.
Trump concluded his remarks by saying, “We have ended a war that many believed would never end. Now, the responsibility is on both sides to make peace last.”