Trump: ‘The war is over.  Do you understand that?’

By Rohan Gunaratna

Today, Monday Oct 13, 2025, President Donald J. Trump will convene “The Middle East Peace Plan” with 20 chiefs of state and heads of government in Egypt. The U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and Chief of Staff Dan Cane will join President Trump on his visit to Israel briefly and then to Egypt.

Today, Monday Oct 13, 2025, President Trump will convene “The Middle East Peace Plan” with 20 chief of state or head of government in Egypt.

While on board Air Force 1, Trump briefed reporters. In response to a question, an optimistic President said, “The war in Gaza is over. Do you understand that? It is over. The ceasefire will hold. People are tired of it.”

The Trump visit to the Middle East will coincide with the hostage release from Gaza City/Netzarim axis at 8:00 AM and from the central camps and Khan Yunis in southern Gaza Strip at 10:00 AM. President Trump is expected to land at 9:20 A.M.

On Oct 13, 2025, Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews Maryland with President Trump departed for Israel and then to Egypt. The U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and Chief of Staff Dan Cane will join President Trump on his visit to Israel and then to Egypt.

Trump: “The war is over.  Do you understand that?” On Oct 13, 2025, Trump briefed reporters on board Air Force 1

Hamas published the names of the 20 living hostages set to be released:

The 20 living hostages to be released

In Israel, President Trump will receive the “President’s Medal” from Israel’s President Isaac Herzog on October 13, 2025. President Herzog will award President Trump, the highest civilian decoration in Israel – the “President’s Medal,” for bringing about the agreement for the release of all the hostages and the end of the war.  “For the historic agreement, for his full and steadfast support of the State of Israel, for his special contribution to its security and concern for the welfare of its citizens, and for his commitment to lead the entire region into an era of peace and cooperation.”

On Oct 13, 2025, President Trump will receive the “President’s Medal” from Israel’s President Isaac Herzog. The President of the State of Israel Isaac Herzog will award the President of the United States, Donald Trump, the highest civilian decoration in Israel – the “President’s Medal,” for bringing about the agreement for the release of all the hostages and the end of the war.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: With the approval of the first phase of the plan, all our hostages will be brought home. This is a diplomatic success and a national and moral victory for the State of Israel.  From the beginning, I made it clear: we will not rest until all our hostages return and all our goals are achieved.   Through steadfast resolve, powerful military action, and the great efforts of our great friend and ally President Trump, we have reached this critical turning point.  I thank President Trump for his leadership, his partnership, and his unwavering commitment to the safety of Israel and the freedom of our hostages.   God Bless Israel. God Bless America. God Bless our great alliance.

Official Schedule — President Trump’s Monday Visit to Israel and Egypt

9:20 – Arrival in Israel

10:45 – Meeting with families of the hostages

11:00 – Address before the Knesset, Jerusalem

13:00 – Departure for Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt

14:30 – Summit in Sharm el-Sheikh and signing ceremony of the agreement

17:00 – Departure for the United States.    

Ben-Gurion Airport: The red carpet has been rolled  out for President Trump’s arrival.                     

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s schedule for the visit of the President of the United States

09:20 – The President of Israel, the Prime Minister, and his wife will receive the US President upon his landing at Ben Gurion Airport

10:15 – The Prime Minister will meet with the President of the United States in his office at the Knesset

10:45 – The Prime Minister, his wife, and the US President will meet with families of hostages at the Knesset

11:00 – The President of the United States, the Prime Minister, the Speaker of the Knesset, and the Leader of the Opposition will speak at the Knesset plenum

13:00 – The President of Israel, the Prime Minister, and his wife will bid farewell to the US President at Ben Gurion Airport (without ceremony)

Jerusalem: Ivanka Trump, the president’s daughter and Kushner’s wife, in Israel participating in prayer at the Kotel.

Guided Tour: Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir led CENTCOM Commander Brad Cooper and special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner on a tour of the Gaza region and presented  a briefing on the IDF’s preparations for the ceasefire plan.

CENTCOM Commander Brad Cooper: The US will deliver peace in the Middle East without boots on the ground. Arab, Turkish and other militaries are likely to deploy in Gaza. Indonesian and Pakistani militaries are likely to deploy too.

President Trump’s Peace Plan

Gaza City: Municipal engineering vehicles have begun to clear  rubble from the streets following the Israeli withdrawal.

Here is the full text of the president’s plan, as provided by the White House:

1. Gaza will be a deradicalised terror-free zone that does not pose a threat to its neighbours.

2. Gaza will be redeveloped for the benefit of the people of Gaza, who have suffered more than enough.

3. If both sides agree to this proposal, the war will immediately end. Israeli forces will withdraw to the agreed upon line to prepare for a hostage release. During this time, all military operations, including aerial and artillery bombardment, will be suspended, and battle lines will remain frozen until conditions are met for the complete staged withdrawal.

4. Within 72 hours of Israel publicly accepting this agreement, all hostages, alive and deceased, will be returned.

5. Once all hostages are released, Israel will release 250 life sentence prisoners plus 1,700 Gazans who were detained after 7 October 2023, including all women and children detained in that context. For every Israeli hostage whose remains are released, Israel will release the remains of 15 deceased Gazans.

6. Once all hostages are returned, Hamas members who commit to peaceful co-existence and to decommission their weapons will be given amnesty. Members of Hamas who wish to leave Gaza will be provided safe passage to receiving countries.

7. Upon acceptance of this agreement, full aid will be immediately sent into the Gaza Strip. At a minimum, aid quantities will be consistent with what was included in the 19 January 2025 agreement regarding humanitarian aid, including rehabilitation of infrastructure (water, electricity, sewage), rehabilitation of hospitals and bakeries, and entry of necessary equipment to remove rubble and open roads.

8. Entry of distribution and aid in the Gaza Strip will proceed without interference from the two parties through the United Nations and its agencies, and the Red Crescent, in addition to other international institutions not associated in any manner with either party. Opening the Rafah crossing in both directions will be subject to the same mechanism implemented under 19 January 2025 agreement.

9. Gaza will be governed under the temporary transitional governance of a technocratic, apolitical Palestinian committee, responsible for delivering the day-to-day running of public services and municipalities for the people in Gaza. This committee will be made up of qualified Palestinians and international experts, with oversight and supervision by a new international transitional body, the “Board of Peace,” which will be headed and chaired by President Donald J. Trump, with other members and heads of state to be announced, including Former Prime Minister Tony Blair. This body will set the framework and handle the funding for the redevelopment of Gaza until such time as the Palestinian Authority has completed its reform programme, as outlined in various proposals, including President Trump’s peace plan in 2020 and the Saudi-French proposal, and can securely and effectively take back control of Gaza. This body will call on best international standards to create modern and efficient governance that serves the people of Gaza and is conducive to attracting investment.

10. A Trump economic development plan to rebuild and energise Gaza will be created by convening a panel of experts who have helped birth some of the thriving modern miracle cities in the Middle East. Many thoughtful investment proposals and exciting development ideas have been crafted by well-meaning international groups, and will be considered to synthesize the security and governance frameworks to attract and facilitate these investments that will create jobs, opportunity, and hope for future Gaza.

11. A special economic zone will be established with preferred tariff and access rates to be negotiated with participating countries.

12. No one will be forced to leave Gaza, and those who wish to leave will be free to do so and free to return. We will encourage people to stay and offer them the opportunity to build a better Gaza.

13. Hamas and other factions agree to not have any role in the governance of Gaza, directly, indirectly, or in any form. All military, terror, and offensive infrastructure, including tunnels and weapon production facilities, will be destroyed and not rebuilt. There will be a process of demilitarisation of Gaza under the supervision of independent monitors, which will include placing weapons permanently beyond use through an agreed process of decommissioning, and supported by an internationally funded buy back and reintegration programme all verified by the independent monitors. New Gaza will be fully committed to building a prosperous economy and to peaceful coexistence with their neighbours.

14. A guarantee will be provided by regional partners to ensure that Hamas, and the factions, comply with their obligations and that New Gaza poses no threat to its neighbours or its people.

15. The United States will work with Arab and international partners to develop a temporary International Stabilisation Force (ISF) to immediately deploy in Gaza. The ISF will train and provide support to vetted Palestinian police forces in Gaza, and will consult with Jordan and Egypt who have extensive experience in this field. This force will be the long-term internal security solution. The ISF will work with Israel and Egypt to help secure border areas, along with newly trained Palestinian police forces. It is critical to prevent munitions from entering Gaza and to facilitate the rapid and secure flow of goods to rebuild and revitalize Gaza. A deconfliction mechanism will be agreed upon by the parties.

16. Israel will not occupy or annex Gaza. As the ISF establishes control and stability, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) will withdraw based on standards, milestones, and timeframes linked to demilitarization that will be agreed upon between the IDF, ISF, the guarantors, and the United States, with the objective of a secure Gaza that no longer poses a threat to Israel, Egypt, or its citizens. Practically, the IDF will progressively hand over the Gaza territory it occupies to the ISF according to an agreement they will make with the transitional authority until they are withdrawn completely from Gaza, save for a security perimeter presence that will remain until Gaza is properly secure from any resurgent terror threat.

17. In the event Hamas delays or rejects this proposal, the above, including the scaled-up aid operation, will proceed in the terror-free areas handed over from the IDF to the ISF.

18. An interfaith dialogue process will be established based on the values of tolerance and peaceful co-existence to try and change mindsets and narratives of Palestinians and Israelis by emphasizing the benefits that can be derived from peace.

19. While Gaza re-development advances and when the PA reform programme is faithfully carried out, the conditions may finally be in place for a credible pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood, which we recognise as the aspiration of the Palestinian people.

20. The United States will establish a dialogue between Israel and the Palestinians to agree on a political horizon for peaceful and prosperous co-existence.

The New  Border: The IDF has withdrawn to the yellow line, retaining control of approximately 53% of Gaza. 

Personal Inspection: Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu visits Sheva hospital to review the preparations for receiving the hostages.

Hamas Thinking⁠

From Trump’s 20-point plan, point 4 and 5 will be implemented on October 13, 2025. Although Israel has accepted, the plan permits the resumption of war if Hamas and its allies refuse to disarm. Disarmament of Hamas will be the next activity after the release of the Israeli hostages by Hamas and its allies and Palestinian prisoners by Israel. With 53% of Gaza Strip under the control of Israel, Jerusalem will resume operations if Hamas remain armed or in power. After disarming Hamas and allies, the next activity will be demilitarizing the Gaza Strip. Hamas leaders under pressure from Qatar, Egypt and Turkey and agreed to release the hostages but is reluctant to disarm.

According to senior Hamas leader, Osama Hamdan:

Conclusion

The Israeli assessment is that Hamas and its allies will not relinquish power to the International Stabilisation Force (ISF) or to the Israeli Defence Force (IDF).

Hamas and its allies seek to rule 47% of besieged Gaza, while the rest remains under Israeli military control. If that is the case, no reconstruction will take place as outlined in Point 17 of Trump’s 20-point plan.

Hamas and its allies are releasing the hostages due to pressure from Qatar, Egypt and Turkey. Like most threat entities the world has witnessed, the ideology of Hamas as it is, does not seek peace, but it seeks continuity of power. As an Islamist group, Hamas ideology remains intact.

The group released the hostages under duress to ward off Trump’s wrath. Hamas’s external leadership based in Qatar have put pressure on Hamas’s Gaza leadership to release the hostages. Neither the group nor its patron Iran have changed their ideology and their vision to see the destruction of Israel.

In addition, the right-wing lobby in Israel do not trust the ISF facilitating the rebuilding of Gaza under American-Qatari sponsorship.  According to them, Hamas and its allies controlled by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) seeking to disrupt the Trump Plan will lurk beneath every thin layer of that arrangement. Israel too will operate through its Palestinian proxies to ensure that Hamas will not dominate and control Gaza.

Rohan Gunaratna is editor of the Handbook of Terrorism in the Middle East

Tagged