Trump says "war is over" as Israel-Hamas ceasefire takes effect

US President Donald Trump has said "the war is over" as he travels to Israel for the release of hostages from Gaza under the ceasefire deal agreed between Israel and Hamas.

When asked by the BBC whether he believed the ceasefire would hold, Trump said it would, adding "everybody is happy, and I think it's going to stay that way".

He also said a "Board of Peace" would quickly be set up for Gaza, which he said looked like a "demolition site".

Trump also praised the roles of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Qatar, one of the mediators.

The deadline for Hamas to release all the hostages it is still holding in Gaza is midday local time (10:00 BST). Later on October 13, Trump will travel to Egypt for an international summit aiming to end the war.

In the morning of October 10, the ceasefire in Gaza took effect after Israel and Hamas agreed to the first phase of the 20-point peace plan brokered by Trump, with the next phases still to be negotiated.

Twenty of the Israeli hostages are believed to be alive, and Hamas is also due to hand over the remains of up to 28 deceased hostages.

Israel should also release around 250 Palestinian prisoners and 1,700 detainees from Gaza, while increased amounts of aid should enter the Strip. An Israeli government spokesperson said they would be released once the living hostages reach Israeli territory.

The war was triggered by the Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken hostage.

Since then, more than 67,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israel's military response, including more than 18,000 children, the Hamas-run health ministry says.

By Khagan Isayev