US President Donald Trump on Sunday declared that the Gaza war is over as Israel prepares for the release of all remaining hostages. Trump is set to visit Israel and Egypt on Monday to mark the ceasefire that ended the two-year-long conflict. “The war is over,” he told reporters before his departure, expressing hope that the ceasefire would hold and saying he would be “proud” to visit Gaza.
Following the release of the living hostages, Israel plans to free about 2,000 Palestinian prisoners in exchange and recover the remains of 28 others believed to have died in captivity. An international task force will begin searching for the bodies of hostages still unaccounted for within 72 hours, a process that may take time due to the extensive destruction in Gaza.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called Monday a “path of healing,” though he continues to face criticism from Israelis who accuse him of prolonging the war for political reasons—an allegation he denies. Hamas is reportedly pushing for the release of Marwan Barghouti, a popular Palestinian leader seen as a potential unifying figure, along with others serving life sentences.
Trump, who played a key role in brokering the ceasefire, will meet families of Israeli hostages and address the Knesset, Israel’s parliament. He will then travel to Egypt, where he and President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi will co-chair a “peace summit” alongside regional and global leaders. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is also expected to attend.
But has the issue been fully resolved, the answer is no. What’s happening now is a temporary ceasefire and a hostage-prisoner exchange deal, but many of the deeper, structural questions remain unsettled. Despite celebrations, uncertainty lingers over Gaza’s future governance and Hamas’s fate, including questions about disarmament and reconstruction.
Trump’s plan has sparked cautious optimism but faces major hurdles. Israel’s agreement to begin implementing the first stage signals willingness under U.S. pressure. Hamas’s partial acceptance—offering to release hostages and transfer power—suggests negotiations are possible.
However, core issues remain unresolved. Hamas has not agreed to disarm, and several aspects of the deal require broader Palestinian consensus, risking delays. Palestinians may also view the plan as favouring Israel and failing to offer a path to statehood or Gaza–West Bank reunification.
“Netanyahu’s agreement to implement the first stage shows Israel is open to the plan, likely under U.S. pressure,” says an analyst, following the developments. “But Hamas’s refusal to disarm and the lack of unified Palestinian leadership complicate implementation. Years of broken ceasefires have eroded trust. A simultaneous hostage release and troop withdrawal would require tight coordination—logistically and politically challenging.”
According to reports, as Israeli forces withdraw Palestinians have begun returning to their devastated homes. The war displaced nearly 90% of its 2 million residents and left Gaza in ruins.The conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas militants launched a surprise attack on southern Israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking 250 hostages. Israel’s subsequent offensive has killed over 67,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. Roughly half of the victims are said to be women and children.
