“The war is over,” Trump declares aboard Air Force One as he heads to Israel to release the hostages

President Trump declared “the war is over” aboard Air Force One as he headed to Israel Sunday night — predicting that his ceasefire deal could end the centuries-old Middle East conflict.

“The war is over,” he told reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday en route to Israel.

“I think people will behave well. Everyone knows their place. It will be great for everyone,” he said.

“I think people are tired of it,” he added. “It’s been centuries, well, not just recently. It’s been centuries. I think people are tired of it. Yes, the ceasefire will continue.”

He spoke a few hours before the first hostages were released around noon Monday in the local town, around 1 a.m. Eastern time.

The first seven hostages were handed over to the Red Cross in Gaza, where they were scheduled to make their journey out of the Palestinian territories and return to Israel.

Crowds from New York to Tel Aviv to Gaza chanted Trump’s name and praised him for the ceasefire agreement, which he said would end the two-year-old war between Israel and Hamas.

The first phase of Trump’s 20-point plan was a ceasefire and withdrawal of Israeli forces from most parts of Gaza.

The second stage is the release of the hostages, which takes place on Monday morning.

Hamas was scheduled to release all twenty living hostages.

The bodies of 28 people killed following the October 7, 2023 attacks are scheduled to be returned in phases over the next 10 days.

Trump’s plan also requires Hamas to disarm and step down from power.

A technocratic body will govern Gaza.