The war in Gaza has come to an end, and the Middle East will be “normalize.” President Donald Trump said on Sunday that he is going to visit Israel, which was also awaiting Hamas to permit the hostages in Israel to allow the world leaders to hold a meeting on the next step to peace.
As he began a flight from Washington, DC, to Israel, Trump informed reporters on board the Air Force that “The war is over, you understand that.”
When asking the prospects about the region, Trump replied: “I think it’s going to normalize.“
Israel and Hamas declared a third day of ceasefire in Gaza on Sunday, just before the expected release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners, and before Trump’s planned address to Israel’s parliament.
Thousands of Palestinians were still heading north to Gaza City, where the Israeli attacks had been concentrated in the recent two months, in hopes that the war would come to an end with the ceasefire.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated in a televised statement, “Tomorrow is the beginning of a new path. A path of building, a path of healing, and I hope – a path of uniting hearts.”
This optimism was widely disseminated, another resident of Gaza, Abdou Abu Seada, said, “There is a lot of joy among the people.” He added that the joy was mitigated by the fatigue of two years of war, which had wrecked a lot of Gaza.
Israeli government spokesperson Shosh Bedrosian stated that Israel expected hostages to be released at the start of Monday morning, with twenty living hostages to be released at once.
She added that Israel was ready to accept hostages if they were released earlier, and explained that the release would later be followed by the delivery of the bodies of the 28 killed hostages.
As per the ceasefire agreement, Hamas is expected to free the remaining hostages by noon on Monday. The group of militants staged a surprise attack on Israel on 7 October 2023 that sparked the war and captured the group members.
Israel will also free 1,700 Palestinians who have been held in Gaza since 7 October 2023, 22 Palestinian minors, and the bodies of 360 militants. Bedrosian reported that the prisoners would be released as the living hostages would arrive at Israeli territory.
Coordinator of Israel’s hostages, Gal Hirsch, added on Thursday that they would establish a task force to assist in finding the remains of any of the dead hostages that Hamas had been unable to find.
Trump is set to visit Israel on Monday, where he will speak to the Knesset, the parliament, which will be followed by a visit to Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt, where a summit of world leaders will be held on ending the Gaza war.
The Palestinian Authority President, Mahmoud Abbas, will also participate in the summit, a correspondent of the Axios newspaper reported on Sunday, citing a senior Palestinian official.
The Middle East envoy of Trump, Steve Witkoff, and Jared Kushner spoke at a rally in Tel Aviv on Saturday, which many Israelis were hoping would be their last rally, urging Israelis to release hostages and end the war.
The US, including Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, went ahead to mediate a hailed first stage agreement between Israel and Hamas on a ceasefire and freeing of Hamas hostages and Israeli prisoners and detainees.
By thanking Trump, demonstrator Dalia Yosef said, “For two years we [have been] waiting for this day for this moment … All of us feel happy for the family, for the hostages, that finally … we will see them.”
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz reported that the military would destroy underground tunnels in Gaza constructed by Hamas after the return of the hostages.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said that the military would destroy underground tunnels in Gaza constructed by Hamas after the return of the hostages. The Palestinians who returned to the north of Gaza have reported massive destruction. Rescue workers cautioned that there might be unexploded ordnance and bombs in the area.
Amjad al-Shawa, the leader of a Palestinian organization that liaises with aid organizations, estimated that 300,000 tents would be needed to temporarily accommodate 1.5 million displaced Gazans.
Rami Mohammad-Ali, a 37-year-old, reported via phone after walking 15km (9.5 miles) with his son from Deir al-Balah to Gaza City, stating, “We couldn’t believe the destruction we have seen.”
By witnessing people scattered along the roads, he further added that “We are joyful to return to Gaza [City] but at the same time we have bitter feelings about the destruction.”
