Trump declares end of Gaza war ahead of hostage release today, US Prez to address Israel parliament

Jerusalem: US President Donald Trump will receive a hero’s welcome in Israel on Monday as he flies to the country amid a fragile Gaza ceasefire he helped broker. “The war is over, you understand that,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One while departing Washington for Israel. Asked about prospects for the region, he said, “I think it’s going to normalise.”

A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas held for a third consecutive day on Sunday, with Israel preparing for the release of hostages and Palestinian prisoners ahead of Trump’s address to the Knesset on Monday. Thousands of Palestinians travelled north towards Gaza City, hopeful that the truce would bring lasting calm after two years of devastating conflict.

“Tomorrow is the beginning of a new path — a path of building, healing, and hopefully uniting hearts,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a televised address.

Government spokesperson Shosh Bedrosian said Israel expected 20 living hostages to be released early Monday morning, followed later by the handover of the bodies of 28 deceased hostages.

Under the ceasefire deal, Hamas is required to release the remaining hostages by noon Monday (0900 GMT). They were taken captive during Hamas’ surprise attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which killed around 1,200 people and triggered the two-year war.

Trump is set to become only the fourth US president to address Israel’s parliament, following Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, and George W Bush. After his address, he will travel to Egypt’s Sharm el-Sheikh for a summit of world leaders aimed at solidifying peace in the region. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is also scheduled to attend.

At a rally in Tel Aviv on Saturday, Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff and adviser Jared Kushner addressed crowds calling for the hostages’ release and an end to the war. The US, along with Egypt, Qatar and Turkey, mediated what has been described as the first phase of a ceasefire and prisoner exchange deal between Israel and Hamas.

“For two years we’ve waited for this moment,” said demonstrator Dalia Yosef in Tel Aviv. “All of us feel happy for the families of the hostages — that finally, we will see them.”

Gazans return to ruins
As the truce took hold, Palestinians returning to northern Gaza described scenes of staggering destruction. “We couldn’t believe the devastation,” said Rami Mohammad-Ali, 37, who walked 15 kilometres from Deir Al Balah to Gaza City with his son. “We are joyful to return, but bitter about the destruction,” he said, recounting the sight of human remains along the roads.

Aid groups warned of unexploded ordnance in the area, and humanitarian agencies said an estimated 300,000 tents were needed to shelter 1.5 million displaced Gazans. The UN confirmed that cooking gas had entered Gaza for the first time since March, alongside expanded food and medical deliveries.

Hostages, prisoners to be exchanged
The Israeli Prison Service confirmed that some Palestinian prisoners had been transferred in preparation for their release. Israel’s Ministry of Justice published the names of 250 Palestinians — convicted of murder and other serious crimes — who are to be freed under the agreement.

The list excludes senior Hamas commanders and prominent figures such as Marwan Barghouti and Ahmed Saadat. Hamas’ prisoners information office said negotiations were continuing over the final list of names.

Israel is also set to release 1,700 Palestinians detained in Gaza since October 7, 2023, and 22 minors, along with the bodies of 360 militants, once the living hostages are returned, Bedrosian said.

Defence Minister Israel Katz stated that once the hostages are back, Israel’s military would destroy Hamas’ network of underground tunnels in Gaza.

Trump’s plan and regional challenges
Trump’s upcoming Knesset speech will outline a “20-point plan” for peace, which includes forming an international “Board of Peace” led by Trump and joined by former British Prime Minister Tony Blair to oversee Gaza’s post-war administration.

However, major questions remain unresolved — including who will govern Gaza once the conflict ends and whether Hamas will agree to disarm. The Hamas-run Interior Ministry has said it will deploy security forces in areas vacated by the Israeli army, but it remains unclear whether armed militants will return to the streets, which Israel views as a provocation.

Palestinian analyst Akram Attallah said the plan appeared to favour Israel, allowing it to set terms and assign blame if the process falters. “If they choose to backtrack, they can find excuses and blame Hamas. Meanwhile, Hamas, the weaker party, loses all leverage once it hands over the hostages,” he told Reuters in Cairo.

Divided reactions in Israel
Crowds gathered at Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square on Saturday cheered and waved placards praising Trump but booed loudly when Netanyahu was mentioned, reflecting growing domestic criticism of the Israeli leader.

Netanyahu’s critics, including families of hostages, accuse him of prolonging the war to appease far-right coalition partners whose support is essential for his political survival. The International Criminal Court last year issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu over alleged war crimes — charges Israel denies.

As world leaders prepare to meet in Egypt, the fragile ceasefire, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and the uncertain political future of the enclave will test whether Trump’s vision for “normalisation” in the Middle East can hold beyond the initial truce.