US President Donald Trump visits Israel and Egypt to oversee the Gaza ceasefire and peace talks.
US President Donald Trump announced that “the war is over” as he flew to Israel to witness the release of hostages under the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas. The agreement marks the first phase of a 20-point peace plan aiming to end one of the deadliest modern conflicts in the Middle East.
Trump Declares End of War in Gaza
Speaking aboard Air Force One, President Trump confirmed that “the war is over,” expressing confidence that the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas would hold. He credited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and mediators from Qatar for their pivotal roles in securing the truce. “Everybody is happy, and I think it’s going to stay that way,” Trump told reporters, adding that he was “good at making peace.”
The ceasefire, which took effect on Friday, paused nearly two years of fighting that began with the Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel on 7 October 2023. The assault killed about 1,200 people and resulted in 251 hostages being taken into Gaza. In response, Israel’s military campaign has killed over 67,000 Palestinians, including more than 18,000 children, according to Gaza’s health ministry.
Hostage Release and Humanitarian Aid
Under the current deal, Hamas is required to release all remaining hostages by midday Monday, including 20 living captives and up to 28 deceased. In exchange, Israel will free approximately 250 Palestinian prisoners and 1,700 detainees from Gaza, alongside increased humanitarian aid deliveries into the enclave.
Aid convoys began entering southern Gaza on Sunday, but the UN warned that far more assistance is needed—at least 600 trucks daily—to address famine conditions declared by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) in August. Israel has rejected the IPC’s report as “based on Hamas lies,” but aid groups insist the humanitarian crisis is worsening.
Regional Summit for Peace
Trump is scheduled to address Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, before heading to Egypt’s Sharm El-Sheikh for a high-level summit aimed at formalizing a document to “end the war in the Gaza Strip.” The meeting will gather leaders from more than 20 countries, including UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed that Egypt invited Iran to the summit but said neither President Masoud Pezeshkian nor he would attend, citing continued hostility from Western nations. Nevertheless, he welcomed any “initiative that ends Israel’s genocide in Gaza.”
Gaza Faces the Aftermath
As hostilities ease, thousands of Palestinians are returning north toward Gaza City, once the center of Israeli attacks. Many described finding their homes reduced to rubble, with some areas still littered with unexploded ordnance. Amjad Al Shawa, who coordinates humanitarian efforts in Gaza, estimated that 300,000 tents are needed to house 1.5 million displaced people.
Hamas has reportedly recalled about 7,000 security personnel to restore order in evacuated areas. However, local clashes have already erupted—most notably a deadly confrontation in Gaza City between Hamas forces and the Dughmush family that left at least 27 dead.
A “Board of Peace” for the Future
Trump announced plans to establish a “Board of Peace,” a supervisory body tasked with rebuilding Gaza and ensuring long-term stability. “I’d like to put my feet on it, at least,” he said, expressing his intent to visit Gaza soon. He called the territory a potential “miracle” in the coming decades if reconstruction succeeds.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz added that once all hostages are returned, the military will focus on dismantling Hamas’s remaining underground tunnel network. Meanwhile, residents of Gaza hope that this fragile truce will finally lead to recovery after years of bloodshed and despair.
The ceasefire in Gaza, brokered by Trump with support from Egypt and Qatar, marks a tentative step toward ending years of regional instability. For Southeast Asia, especially Indonesia and Singapore, the development signals a moment to reassess humanitarian diplomacy and trade security in the Middle East. Whether this truce evolves into lasting peace depends on the delicate balance of rebuilding trust—and Gaza itself.
Sources: BBC (2025) , The Guardian (2025)
Keywords: Gaza War, Donald Trump, Israel Hamas, Hostage Release, Ceasefire Agreement, Middle East
