The Health Ministry in the Gaza Strip, controlled by "Hamas", announced today the deaths of 67,869 people killed since the start of the war between Israel and the Islamist group on October 7, 2023, Agence France-Presse reported, BTA reported.
"The total number of victims of Israeli aggression since October 7, 2023 has reached 67,869 martyrs," said the ministry, which continues to collect the bodies of the dead, while US President Donald Trump declared the end of the war in Gaza after the entry into force of the peace agreement under the auspices of the US.
The war in Gaza began after the deadliest attack in Israel's history, after "Hamas" and fighters from other Palestinian groups invaded across the border into southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing about 1,200 people and capturing more than 250 others, and Israel responded with an offensive into the Palestinian enclave.
In his speech to an emergency session of the Israeli parliament today, US President Donald Trump said that the agreement between Israel and "Hamas" to end the war in Gaza will be "the historic dawn of a new Middle East", DPA reported, BTA writes.
This will be "the end of the era of terror and death", the American president said.
"This will be the golden age of Israel and the golden age of the Middle East", he said.
Trump also pointed out that the "long nightmare" was finally over for both Israelis and Palestinians after an agreement was reached between Israel and "Hamas" for the first phase of a ceasefire in Gaza and a deal for the hostages, Reuters reported.
"The forces of chaos that have plagued the region have been completely defeated," he said in a speech to the Knesset.
Addressing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump said: "Thank you very much, Bibi. Great job."
According to the US president, the Gaza agreement, recently concluded between Israel and "Hamas", came at the right time, as Israel's military operations have become "bad and vicious". "I said: "Bibi, you will be remembered for this much more than if you had kept killing, killing, killing," Trump said in his speech to the Knesset. "I just want to congratulate you for having the courage to say: "That's it, we won and now let's enjoy our lives".
Trump received a standing ovation both before and during his speech, DPA reported.
During a part of his speech in which he praised US special envoy Steve Witkoff, a left-wing Knesset member shouted at Trump and was quickly escorted out of the room, Reuters noted.