By Olatunbosun Obafemi
U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday declared that the war in Gaza was over as he embarked on a crucial peace mission to Israel and Egypt, aimed at consolidating the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and charting a new course for Middle East stability.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump sounded confident that the guns had gone silent for good. “The war is over. Okay? You understand that?” he said when asked about the truce. “I think it’s going to hold. People are tired of it. It’s been centuries.”
The 79-year-old president left Washington under light rain, describing the journey as “a very special event.” His trip follows the announcement of a 20-point peace plan in late September, credited with helping to end the devastating conflict that erupted after Hamas’s October 7, 2023, assault on southern Israel.
Trump’s first stop is Jerusalem, where he is expected to meet families of hostages seized by Hamas and address the Knesset, Israel’s parliament. From there, he will travel to Cairo to co-host a summit with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, bringing together more than 20 world leaders to rally support for his peace initiative.
Travelling with Trump are senior officials including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and CIA Director John Ratcliffe, underscoring the weight of the mission.
Yet serious challenges remain. Hamas has refused to disarm, and Israel has not pledged a full withdrawal from Gaza. Trump said he had “verbal guarantees” from both sides and believed they would not “want to disappoint” him. He also described his relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as “very good,” saying earlier disputes had been “quickly settled.”
Trump hinted that he would like to visit Gaza himself “to put my feet on it at least,” adding that a new governing authority for the enclave would be established soon. He also said he was reconsidering plans to involve former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, stressing the need for a choice “acceptable to everybody.”
