U.S. President Donald Trump said he expects all hostages held in Gaza — including the remains of those who died — to be returned on Monday, following a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.
“So much is happening to get the hostages freed, and we think they’ll all be coming back on Monday — that includes the bodies of the dead,” Trump said during a phone interview on Fox News late Wednesday.
His remarks came hours after he unveiled a 20-point peace plan aimed at ending two years of devastating conflict in Gaza, which has left the territory in ruins and sparked a severe humanitarian crisis.
According to Trump, the plan stipulates that Hamas will release all hostages while Israel will withdraw its troops to an agreed line. The U.S. president said the agreement followed negotiations held in Egypt.
Trump suggested the peace deal could have far-reaching regional effects, potentially involving Iran — a longtime adversary of both Israel and the United States.
“This is more than Gaza; this is peace in the Middle East,” he said. “I think Iran is going to be actually a part of the whole peace situation.”
Calling the accord “great for Israel, great for Muslims, great for the Arab countries, and great for the United States,” Trump said global consensus was forming around the deal.
The president also reiterated his belief that Gaza could be rebuilt into a thriving region if lasting peace is achieved, noting that the U.S. and neighboring wealthy nations would play key roles in reconstruction efforts.
“Gaza is going to be a place that rebuilds, with help from countries in the area that have tremendous wealth and want to see it prosper,” he said. “And we’ll be involved in helping it succeed and remain peaceful.”
