Trump Declares Gaza War Over En Route to Middle East Summit

US President Donald Trump declared the war in Gaza over while en route to a major international peace summit in the Middle East. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump affirmed his belief that the ceasefire based on his 20-point proposal would hold, stating, "The war is over, okay? You understand that?"

Responding to questions about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's position, Trump expressed strong confidence in the durability of the agreement. "There are a lot of reasons why it's going to hold. But I think people are tired of it. It's been centuries, not just recent. It's been centuries," he remarked. The President also discussed plans for a "Board of Peace" to govern Gaza, though he noted uncertainty about including former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Trump emphasized that reconstruction efforts would begin promptly, focusing initially on clearing widespread destruction. "You have to get people taken care of first. But it's going to start, really, essentially, immediately," he said, describing Gaza as resembling "a demolition site." He estimated the rebuilding process would likely continue for years.

President Trump departed for Tel Aviv accompanied by key officials including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Following meetings in Israel, he will co-chair the Sharm el-Sheikh Peace Summit with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. The gathering will include Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and over twenty other world leaders aiming to establish regional stability.

The summit follows Trump's Wednesday announcement that Israel and Hamas agreed to the first phase of his peace plan, which began Friday. This initial phase involves prisoner exchanges and Israeli troop withdrawals. A prospective second phase envisions a new Gaza governing body excluding Hamas, a multinational security force, and the group's disarmament. The conflict has resulted in over 67,600 Palestinian casualties since October 2023.