President Donald Trump said on the 12th that “the war is over,” referring to the cessation of fighting between Israel and Hamas following the implementation of the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement.
While visiting Israel and Egypt, Trump met with reporters aboard Air Force One that day and made his remarks when asked, “Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hasn’t said the war is over yet. What is your position?” Hethen responded to a question about whether he was confident the ceasefire would last, saying, “Yes.”
President Trump said, “This (the Middle East conflict) has been going on for centuries; it’s not just a recent thing,” adding, “People are really tired of it.”
He added, “The ceasefire will remain, and the international stabilization force will play a wonderful, powerful supporting role.”
This is interpreted as referring to the joint military task force dispatched to the Middle East by the United States, Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey to support the Gaza ceasefire agreement.
President Trump also announced that a peace committee, an international governing body to support the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, will be formed “very quickly.”
According to the White House, President Trump will meet with the families of Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Tel Aviv, Israel, the following morning, the 13th.Later that day, he will attend a Middle East peace ceremony in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, where the signing of the Gaza ceasefire agreement is expected.
Israel and Hamas, which have been at war in the Gaza Strip for two years, have agreed to the first phase of the “Gaza Peace Initiative” spearheaded by President Trump. Accordingly, Hamas will release 20 surviving Israeli hostages on the morning of the 13th, and Israel will also release Palestinian prisoners.
Meanwhile, President Trump has stated that if the Russia-Ukraine war, which has lasted well over three years, continues, he may provide Ukraine with Tomahawk long-range cruise missiles. President Trump stated that Ukraine wants Tomahawk missiles and that he may need to talk to President Vladimir Putin about this issue.
He said, “I may have to tell Putin, ‘If the war isn’t resolved, I’ll send them Tomahawks,'” but added, “Russia doesn’t need Tomahawks. I want the war to be resolved.”
This is interpreted as an announcement that he would prioritize dialogue with Russia over immediately providing Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine.