Trump declares Gaza war over, as he heads to Israel ahead of hostages' release

President Trump said Sunday that the war in Gaza was over and expressed confidence that the ceasefire he brokered several days ago will hold. Why it matters: Trump spoke to reporters aboard Air Force One en route to Israel — the first stop on his Middle East trip. His remarks were also an implicit warning to Israel and Hamas not to violate the deal. Trump's peace plan ended the two-year war that started after Hamas' Oct. 7 attacks. More than 67,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, according to the Hamas-controlled Health Ministry.Driving the news: As Trump was making his way to the region, both Hamas and Israel were making the last preparations for the release of Israeli hostages being held in Gaza and Palestinian prisoners, who are being held in Israeli jails. Israeli officials said they expected the hostages to be release around 8am Monday local time (1am ET) — less than two hours before Trump is due to land in Israel. Hamas is expected to release 20 live Israeli hostages and retrieve the bodies of 28 other hostages, among them two Americans. Israel will release 250 Palestinians who served life sentences for killing Israelis and 1700 Palestinians who were detained by the IDF in Gaza afyer October 7. The president will be on the ground in Israel less than five hours. He will travel to Jerusalem to speak in front of the Knesset and will meet there with hostages families and with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.What he's saying: Trump said he thinks the ceasefire will hold because both Israel and Hamas are tired of fighting and because most people in Israel and in countries in the region support his peace plan. He stressed he received guarantees from both sides that they will implement the deal. "I don't think anybody wants to disappoint me", Trump said. Trump said he had differences with Netanyahu over the war in Gaza, "but they were quickly solved." He stressed his relationship with the prime minister is "very good". The president said he wants to visit Gaza in the future. What to watch: From Israel, Trump is expected to travel to Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, for an international conference that will endorse his peace plan. Two dozen leaders from Arab, Muslim and European countries are expected to attend the conference. The U.S. and Egypt even invited Iran to the conference, but Iranian officials declined. While Netanyahu hasn't been invited to the conference, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is expected to participate.

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