Trump Says Gaza War Over as Final Hostages Freed and Ceasefire Takes Hold

U.S. President Donald Trump declared the Gaza war “over” on Monday after Hamas released the last living Israeli hostages under a ceasefire agreement, marking a dramatic turning point in a two-year conflict that has devastated the region. Speaking before Israel’s parliament, Trump urged both sides to transform their battlefield gains into lasting peace and prosperity.

“The skies are calm, the guns are silent, the sirens are still, and the sun rises on a Holy Land that is finally at peace,” Trump said in his address to the Knesset in Jerusalem. He called the end of hostilities “a long nightmare” for Israelis and Palestinians alike and urged leaders to seize the moment to secure a sustainable future.

Ceasefire Seals End of Two-Year War

The ceasefire agreement, brokered with U.S., Egyptian, Qatari, and Turkish mediation, includes the release of all remaining hostages held in Gaza and nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners detained by Israel. The Israeli military confirmed on Monday that all hostages confirmed to be alive have been returned, while the remains of 26 others killed during captivity are also being repatriated.

The breakthrough comes almost exactly two years after the October 7, 2023 Hamas assault on southern Israel, which killed 1,200 people and saw 251 taken hostage. In the years since, Israeli airstrikes, ground offensives, and blockades have killed more than 67,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health officials, and displaced the majority of the enclave’s 2.2 million residents.

The deal’s announcement triggered scenes of joy across both sides. In Tel Aviv’s “Hostage Square,” crowds wept and embraced as survivors returned. In Gaza and the West Bank, families celebrated the homecoming of prisoners, some hoisted on shoulders and welcomed with Palestinian flags.

Trump’s Peace Vision and New Middle East Goals

Trump is expected to attend a summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, where over 20 world leaders will outline the next steps under his 20-point blueprint for peace. The plan calls for a new “Board of Peace” — an international body tasked with overseeing Gaza’s reconstruction, governance, and eventual political transition.

“Now it is time to translate these victories against terrorists on the battlefield into the ultimate prize of peace and prosperity for the entire Middle East,” Trump said. He also floated the idea of a peace agreement between Israel and Iran, suggesting Tehran might be open to reconciliation after decades of hostility.

The agreement also aims to ease the humanitarian crisis gripping Gaza. A global hunger monitor reports that famine conditions now affect over half a million people in Gaza City and surrounding areas. Trump’s plan includes expanding aid deliveries, with U.N. relief agencies calling for urgent shipments of food, medicine, fuel, and shelter supplies.

Challenges Ahead Despite End of War

Despite Trump’s declaration, major hurdles remain. Hamas has not agreed to disarm — a core demand in the peace framework — and tensions flared almost immediately after Israel’s pullback, with Hamas gunmen reportedly killing 32 members of a rival faction in Gaza City.

Key political questions also remain unresolved, including Gaza’s post-war governance, Israel’s future security presence, and the prospect of Palestinian statehood — an outcome opposed by many in Israel. Previous ceasefires have faltered on these same issues, raising concerns about the durability of the current deal.

Still, for many, Trump’s announcement signals the beginning of a new era. “We are living through history,” one Israeli official said. “This could be the moment where war gives way to something different.”

Trump says the Gaza war is over — but whether this fragile peace endures will depend on the willingness of all sides to confront the conflicts that remain unresolved.

FYI (keeping you in the loop)-

Q1: What did Trump say about the Gaza war?

Trump declared the Gaza war “over” and called it a “long nightmare” that must now give way to peace and prosperity for Israelis and Palestinians.

Q2: What triggered the end of the Gaza war?

The release of all surviving Israeli hostages and a ceasefire agreement, along with the exchange of nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, marked the war’s end.

Q3: How many people died during the Gaza war?

About 1,200 people were killed in the initial Hamas attack in 2023, and more than 67,000 Palestinians have been killed in the conflict since then.

Q4: What is Trump’s peace plan?

It is a 20-point blueprint involving ceasefire terms, humanitarian aid, reconstruction, a “Board of Peace,” and potential disarmament of Hamas.

Q5: What happens next?

World leaders will meet in Egypt to plan Gaza’s reconstruction, governance, and future political framework under the peace accord.

References

Reuters. (2025). Hamas swaps last Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners, Trump says Gaza war over. October 13, 2025.

Associated Press. (2025). Trump declares Gaza war over as ceasefire takes hold. October 13, 2025.

BBC News. (2025). Final hostages freed as Trump says Gaza war is over. October 13, 2025.