Washington, 13 October 2025 (dpa/MIA) - US President Donald Trump on Sunday firmly stated that the conflict in the Gaza Strip "is over" as he headed to Israel and Egypt to mark the agreement he helped broker between Israel and Palestinian militant organization Hamas.

A reporter on board the Air Force One pointed out to Trump that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not gone so far as to say the war against Hamas is over.

"The war is over," Trump responded firmly. "The war is over," he repeated. "You understand that?"

The US president added that he thought that the ceasefire would hold. "I think people are tired," he said.

Trump spoke as he was flying to Israel to first meet with hostage families on Monday morning and then deliver a speech to the Knesset, the Israeli parliament.

In the afternoon, Trump plans to travel to the Egyptian coastal resort of Sharm el-Sheikh for a "Middle East peace ceremony" to mark the agreement between Israel and Hamas. According to the White House schedule, the president will be back in Washington on Tuesday night local time.

MIA file photo