Is an end in sight to the two-year Gaza war… Trump: "The ceasefire will hold"

Trump attends Middle East peace conference

Also meets families of Israeli hostages

On the Russia-Ukraine war: "Tomahawk support possible"

U.S. President Donald Trump said "the war is over" in relation to the suspension of hostilities between Israel and Hamas as the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement took effect.

President Trump, who was on a visit to Israel and Egypt, met with reporters on Air Force One (the presidential aircraft) on the 12th (local time) and, when asked, "Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel's prime minister, has not gone so far as to say the war is over; what is your view?", he made this remark. When asked whether he was confident the ceasefire would hold, he replied, "Yes."

President Trump said, "This (the Middle East conflict) has lasted for centuries and is not just a recent occurrence," and emphasized that "people are really tired of it." He added, "The ceasefire will hold, and an international stabilization force will play an excellent and strong supporting role in part." This is interpreted to refer to the joint military task force of the United States, Egypt, Qatar, Türkiye, and others dispatched to the Middle East to support the Gaza ceasefire agreement.

President Trump also mentioned that a peace commission, an international administrative organization to support the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, will be formed "very quickly."

According to the White House, President Trump will meet the families of Israeli hostages who had been held by Hamas in Tel Aviv, Israel, on the morning of the following day, the 13th. That afternoon, he plans to attend a Middle East peace ceremony held in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. It is expected that the signing ceremony for the Gaza ceasefire agreement will take place at that event.

Israel and Hamas, which have fought for two years in the Gaza Strip, agreed to the first phase of the 'Gaza peace plan' led by President Trump. Accordingly, Hamas will release 20 surviving Israeli hostages on the morning of the 13th, and Israel plans to release Palestinian detainees.

In addition, President Trump said that regarding the Russia-Ukraine war, which has gone on for well over three years, if the war continues he may provide long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine. President Trump said that Ukraine wants Tomahawk support and noted that a conversation with President Vladimir Putin may be necessary on this issue.

He said he might have to tell President Putin, "'If the war is not resolved, we will send Tomahawks to them (Ukraine),'" but added, "Russia does not need Tomahawks. I want the war to be resolved." This is interpreted as indicating that he would prioritize dialogue with Russia rather than immediately supplying Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine.

Park Subin, Hankyung.com reporter waterbean@hankyung.com