‘The war is over’: Trump heads to Israel as hostage release nears

London: Israel expects to receive all living hostages from Gaza in a single group to be transferred by Hamas on Monday, in a crucial step toward a summit in Egypt that aims to turn the ceasefire into a lasting peace.

US President Donald Trump is preparing to address the national parliament in Israel to mark the long-awaited halt to the two-year war, and may meet some of the hostages before heading to Egypt for the summit with 20 world leaders.

“The war is over, you understand that,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Monday.

The hostage transfer will clear the way for Israel to release almost 2000 Palestinian prisoners, including 250 who were jailed for life, to ensure the ceasefire continues under terms agreed last week.

But the Israeli Defence Forces said the country remained in a “multi-front war” and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signalled there could be more fighting to come.

“This is a historic event that blends sorrow over the release of murderers – and joy over the return of hostages,” Netanyahu said in a televised address to the country.

“And I want to say: Everywhere we fought – we won.

“But in the same breath, I must tell you: the campaign is not over. There are still very great security challenges ahead of us. Some of our enemies are trying to rebuild themselves to attack us again. And as we say – ‘We’re on it’.”

Hamas fighters have returned to parts of Gaza following the withdrawal of Israeli troops under the terms of the ceasefire, fuelling speculation about further conflict.

The chief of staff of the Israel Defences Forces, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, said the country was in the midst of a “multifront war” with more challenges ahead.

In a positive sign for talks at the summit, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas will attend the meeting to discuss the governance of Gaza, ending doubts about whether the West Bank authority would be represented.

Hamas will not be present and Netanyahu is not expected to attend the meetings at the Sharm El-Sheikh resort in Egypt.

Those planning to attend include British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Jordan’s King Abdullah II and United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

Speaking to NBC’s Meet the Press on Sunday, US Vice President JD Vance said Trump was planning to “greet the hostages Monday morning” in Israel.

Billboards and placards were set up in Tel Aviv praising Trump, who is also expected to meet with families of hostages and speak at the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, according to a schedule released by the White House.

Trump is expected to be in Israel for about four hours before heading to the summit in Egypt on Monday.

Trump has received international acclaim for bringing about the ceasefire via his 20-point peace plan, though a key stumbling block is whether Hamas will disarm as demanded by Israel and the US.

The deadline for the hostage transfer 12pm on Monday in Israel, or 8pm AEST.

Israeli government spokeswoman Shosh Bedrosian told a news conference on Sunday that all 20 hostages were expected to be delivered to Red Cross personnel at the same time without “any sick displays” by Hamas.

In a rundown of the repatriation of the remaining hostages snatched by Hamas during the terror attack that killed nearly 1200 people, Bedrosian said the freed captives would then be transferred to Israeli-controlled territory in Gaza, then on to the Re’im base in southern Israel, where they would receive medical attention and be reunited with their families.

“During this time, the entire nation of Israel will embrace them and help them get back on their feet,” she said, adding Israeli forces were also ready to receive the bodies of the 28 hostages who died while in captivity, and who would be given a short ceremony in Gaza, where their coffins would be draped with flags.

Following Friday’s ceasefire declaration, Hamas official Osama Hamdan told Agence France-Presse the exchange was to begin on Monday morning “as agreed”. But Vance brought that timeline into question when he was asked on NBC when “exactly” the hostages would be released.

“It really should be any moment now,” Vance said.

The timing has not yet been announced for the release of some 2000 Palestinian prisoners held in Israel who are to be freed under the deal. They include 250 people serving life sentences in addition to 1700 people seized from Gaza during the war and held without charge.

Bedrosian said the Palestinian prisoners would be released once “Israel has confirmation that all of our hostages set to be released tomorrow are across the border into Israel.”

As the third day of the ceasefire held, Associated Press footage showed dozens of trucks crossing the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing with the Gaza Strip. The Egyptian Red Crescent said they carried medical supplies, tents, blankets, food and fuel.

The trucks were expected to head to the inspection area in the Kerem Shalom crossing for screening by Israeli troops.

Abeer Etefa, a spokeswoman for the World Food Program, said workers were clearing roads inside Gaza to facilitate delivery.

As discussion turns to enforcing peace, Vance told NBC that while 200 US troops were already in the region to monitor the terms of the ceasefire and help ensure the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza, no American soldiers would be deployed to Gaza.

Palestinians continued to move back to areas vacated by Israeli forces. Many were returning to homes reduced to rubble.

One man, Mohamed Samy, told The Associated Press he went back on foot to see if his home in Jabaliya was still standing.

“It was flattened, just like everything else in Jabaliya,” Samy said. “It was like the building never even existed in that place. I questioned my sanity.”

With Associated Press

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