RismadarVoice Reporters
September 22, 2026
US President Donald Trump has said his administration helped bring home all remaining hostages held in Gaza, both living and deceased, as he addressed the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Tuesday.
Trump said that when he last addressed the General Assembly, the war in Gaza was still ongoing and the hostages remained in Hamas tunnels, with no clear resolution in sight.
He said developments on the sidelines of the UN meetings later helped change the course of the conflict.
“A few weeks later, we ended the war in Gaza, saving untold thousands of lives,” Trump said.
The US president added that his administration had also secured the return of all remaining hostages.
“We also brought home all remaining hostages, both living and dead, every single one of them,” Trump said, a statement that drew applause from the audience.
The remarks came as Trump highlighted his administration’s efforts to broker an end to the Gaza conflict and secure the release of hostages.
The return of all Israeli hostages from Gaza had previously been confirmed by Israel in January 2026, when the remains of the final hostage were recovered and returned to Israel.
The development followed a broader US-backed Gaza peace framework that provided for the release of hostages, a ceasefire and subsequent steps towards reconstruction and a new governance arrangement for the territory.
Trump’s comments at the UN came as Gaza remained a major focus of discussions among world leaders during the General Assembly. The US-led Board of Peace has called on international partners to support its roadmap for Gaza, including reconstruction, humanitarian assistance and security arrangements.
Trump’s speech also addressed other international issues, including the conflict involving Iran and broader questions of global security.
