WATCH: Trump Declares Victory on Gaza Agreement, Pledges Reconstruction and Hostage Return

US President Donald Trump addressed the American Cabinet on Thursday evening, hours after the first phase of the agreement between Israel and Hamas was signed in Egypt. The session was delayed partly due to a call with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, who reiterated his invitation for Trump to attend a special ceremony in Egypt and urged the US President to ensure all parties uphold the agreement.

"Last night we reached a significant breakthrough in the Middle East, something many said would not happen," Trump declared. "We ended the war in Gaza and created long-term peace."

The Return of Israeli Prisoners

Trump confirmed the timeline for the return of the Israeli hostages: "The Israeli hostages will be released on Monday or Tuesday. The process of returning them is complex. We are also bringing the bodies of the deceased."

He shared an emotional anecdote about the complexity of the task, saying, "One mother told me, 'That's my baby', this is a person who is 25 years old, but to her, he is a baby." He stressed the importance of their return, stating it will be a "day of great joy." Trump added that he would "try to get there" for the event and praised the extensive involvement of multiple nations, including all Arab and Muslim states, calling the achievement unprecedented.

Israel’s Ratification and Operational Readiness

In Israel, the Security Cabinet finally convened to discuss the agreement, which was signed in Egypt earlier in the day. The meeting began late as the final list of 250 Palestinian prisoners to be released, including 20 highly contentious figures, with Marwan Barghouti confirmed as excluded, was being finalized. The full Israeli Government is scheduled to convene at 8:00 PM to formally approve the deal.

The timeline for implementation remains tight:

Concurrently, the IDF and other security agencies are in a state of maximum readiness. The head of the Technology and Logistics Directorate, Major General Rami Boudreau, toured the Gaza Division to mandate full, unrestricted resource preparations for the reception of the living and deceased Israeli prisoners (hostages). Military sources called the large-scale intake a complex and sensitive mission.

The Missing Persons Headquarters, led by Major General (Res.) Nitzan Alon, is preparing to support an international task force to locate a number of deceased Israeli prisoners whose burial sites Hamas claims to be unaware of.

Trump on Iran and Regional Peace

During his statement, Trump also connected the current agreement to his administration’s broader regional strategy, including the recent military action against Iran. He asserted that the "attack on Iran was very important," claiming, "it helped, otherwise they would have a nuclear weapon." He stated that while sanctions remain, the US will work with Iran to "rebuild their country," but will "not allow them a nuclear weapon."

Trump highlighted the universal support for the agreement, stating, "All the surrounding countries for the agreement all signed. This is excellent for Israel, for Muslims, for Arab countries, and for the United States." He thanked the mediating nations, Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey, for their integral role in achieving the "historic and unprecedented event."