Trump on his way to Gaza?
Trump: “I’m Happy to Visit Gaza - the War Is Over”
En route to Israel, President Trump declared the Gaza war over, praised Qatar and Turkey for their roles in regional peace, and announced plans for Tony Blair to lead Gaza’s reconstruction.
U.S. President Donald Trump spoke with reporters aboard Air Force One on his way to Israel, addressing his plan to visit Gaza, his relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and developments in the Middle East. Trump departed from Andrews Air Force Base near Washington and is expected to land in Israel around 9:00 AM local time.
“The War Is Over”.
When asked by a journalist about Netanyahu’s reluctance to formally declare the end of the war, Trump responded bluntly:
“The war is over! Do you understand that? People are tired of this war. The ceasefire will hold, and we’ll make sure of it. Everyone knows their place now, and everyone’s happy.”
He added that his administration is working to maintain stability in the region and ensure that both sides adhere to their commitments.
Speaking about Gaza’s future, Trump said the rebuilding process would begin immediately:
“We’ll start phase two right away. Gaza is like a demolition site we need to clear out the rubble and rebuild. Within a year, it will be beautiful. This is the first real opportunity in centuries for peace and normal life.”
Trump revealed that former U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair would head the body overseeing Gaza’s transition:
“Blair will lead the process, and I want to make sure he’s accepted by everyone. We’ve received many verbal commitments, and I believe all sides will follow through.”
Addressing reports that Hamas would temporarily act as a local police force, Trump confirmed:
“Yes, they’ll function as local police for a limited time to prevent crime and looting. They’ve lost 60,000 people. There are nearly two million residents returning to destroyed homes, they need order.”
He also said progress on the Israeli hostages issue is underway:
“The hostages were held in places you don’t want to know about, but we’ll get them back sooner than expected.”
Trump insisted his relationship with Prime Minister Netanyahu remains strong:
“Our relationship is good. He even nominated me for the Nobel Prize. We’ve had disagreements, but they were resolved quickly. He’s the right man at the right time.”
When asked about the public criticism Netanyahu has faced, Trump said simply:
“I don’t know what happened there, but we’ll make everyone happy.”
Trump credited Qatar and its emir for their crucial role in mediating regional stability:
“Qatar helped us tremendously. The emir is brave, it was risky for them, but they deserve credit. In 2017, I barely knew them, but now I understand how central they are.”
He also praised Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan:
“Erdoğan has been great, he’s strong, his country is strong.”
Concluding his remarks, Trump said:
“I’d love to visit Gaza, to set foot there at least once. I believe a great miracle will happen there in the coming decades. We just can’t rush it.”
Before takeoff, Trump described his trip as “a huge event,” adding that “half a million people celebrated the agreement in Israel yesterday,” and that support was also growing across the Arab world.
Meanwhile, the White House official account posted a single word on social media: “Peace!”