US President Donald Trump headed Sunday to Israel and Egypt on a trip of great importance, which he described as “very special” as part of efforts to end the war in Gaza.
Trump is accompanied on his trip by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and CIA Director John Ratcliffe, according to the White House.
In response to a question about Gaza, Trump said, “The war is over,” adding that “the ceasefire will hold.”
Trump confirmed that “many verbal guarantees were given regarding ending the war in Gaza.”
The US President continued, saying, “Gaza looks like a demolition site.”
According to Trump, “a peace council will be formed quickly for Gaza.”
Regarding the file of Israeli detainees in Gaza, Trump said: “It is possible that they will be released a little earlier.”
Hamas is expected to release Israeli detainees early Monday morning to pave the way for the next phase of President Trump’s plan for Gaza.
According to the agreement, 48 detainees in Gaza, alive and dead, will be handed over to Israel on Monday by 09:00 GMT.
In return, Israel will release 250 Palestinian detainees sentenced to life imprisonment, and 1,700 detainees from Gaza who have been detained since the outbreak of the war.
