(MENAFN) US President Donald Trump declared on Sunday that the conflict in Gaza had concluded as he commenced his journey to the Middle East.

He is scheduled to participate in an international peace summit centered on a mutually agreed ceasefire in Gaza.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One shortly after departing from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, Trump said, "The war is over, okay? You understand that?"

This statement came in response to a question regarding Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's reluctance to formally acknowledge the end of hostilities.

Trump expressed confidence that the ceasefire arrangement, based on a 20-point plan he unveiled the previous Wednesday, would hold steady.

He commented, "(There are) a lot of reasons why it's going to hold. But I think people are tired of it. It's been centuries, not just recent. It's been centuries."

Regarding the establishment of a “Board of Peace” to administer Gaza as the agreement moves forward, Trump mentioned that the formation of this body would happen “very quickly.”

However, he expressed uncertainty about the involvement of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair in this initiative.

“First, I want to find out that Tony would be popular with all, because I just don't know that,” he stated.

Trump also highlighted that rebuilding efforts, especially the removal of rubble and damaged infrastructure, would commence “immediately” and could take several years to complete.

He explained, “You have to get people taken care of first. But it’s going to start, really, essentially, immediately. They’re going to have to start by removing a lot of the structures that you see that are down to the ground…It’s blasted. This is like a demolition site. Almost the entire site is.”

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