U.S. President Trump Declares End to Israel–Hamas War Aboard Air Force One

In a historic mid-air announcement aboard Air Force One, U.S. President Donald J. Trump declared that the war between Israel and Hamas is officially over, following a U.S.-brokered ceasefire deal that both sides have agreed to uphold.

Speaking to reporters en route to Israel, Trump said firmly, “The war is over — you understand that. The Middle East will normalize.” The President is expected to land in Tel Aviv to oversee implementation of the agreement and attend a regional peace summit involving Israeli and Arab leaders.

According to officials familiar with the agreement, the ceasefire marks the first stage of Trump’s 20-point Gaza peace plan, unveiled late last month. The deal includes:

• A full ceasefire across Gaza and southern Israel effective immediately.

• The release of 20 Israeli hostages and the remains of 28 others held by Hamas.

• Israel’s release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in exchange.

• A phased Israeli troop withdrawal from parts of Gaza as international monitors move in.

• Humanitarian aid corridors to allow food, medicine, and reconstruction materials into the Strip.

The President emphasized that the agreement represents “the end of major combat operations” and a path toward “a new phase of peace, rebuilding, and normalization.”

In Israel, government sources confirmed that the Cabinet had approved the Trump-brokered deal after weeks of negotiations. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the ceasefire as “a necessary step toward securing our hostages and restoring stability,” though he cautioned that Israel reserves the right to act against future terrorist threats. From Gaza, senior Hamas figures described the agreement as “a victory for resistance and survival,” but said true peace will depend on reconstruction and the lifting of long-standing blockades.

President Trump’s flight to the region is part of a broader diplomatic tour that includes meetings in Jerusalem, Cairo, and Amman. He is expected to address the Knesset (Israel’s parliament) and meet with families of freed hostages before joining Arab leaders at a peace summit aimed at expanding normalization between Israel and neighboring states. Administration officials say Trump’s goal is to “turn a ceasefire into a durable peace” and integrate Gaza into regional stability plans. A multinational stabilization force — including U.S., Egyptian, and Jordanian participation — is reportedly under discussion to oversee compliance.

Despite the historic tone of Trump’s declaration, analysts warn that sustaining peace will require unprecedented cooperation. Hamas’s long-term disarmament, Gaza’s reconstruction, and questions over future governance remain unresolved. Humanitarian groups have welcomed the ceasefire but caution that trust between both sides remains fragile and that years of destruction will take “massive, coordinated rebuilding efforts.” As Air Force One crossed the Mediterranean toward Israel, Trump framed the announcement as a turning point in U.S. foreign policy:

“For too long, we’ve seen endless conflict,” he said. “Today, that ends. The war is over. Now we focus on peace.”

Whether this declaration becomes a lasting milestone or a fleeting truce will depend on what happens in the coming days — when the first hostages are freed, Israeli troops begin to pull back, and the people of Gaza take their first steps toward recovery.