U.S. President Donald Trump has declared that the war in Gaza is over and that the Middle East is returning to normal.
He made the remarks while preparing to depart the United States for a visit to Israel, ahead of a high-level meeting in Egypt today, where world leaders are expected to discuss the next steps in the ceasefire agreement that has already come into effect.
Before arriving in Egypt, President Trump will make a brief stop in Israel, where he is also scheduled to address the Israeli Parliament.
As part of the ceasefire arrangements, Hamas is expected to release Israeli hostages later today. The 72-hour deadline set for the release expires at 12 noon Israeli time.
“The war is over, you understand that,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One as he departed from Washington. When asked about the outlook for the region, he said he believes it “will be normalized.”
President Trump’s visit comes at a critical juncture, as regional leaders work to stabilize the situation and consolidate the ceasefire.
