US President Donald Trump on Monday declared the “historic dawn of a new Middle East” during a landmark address to the Israeli parliament (Knesset), following a US-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
It was the first address by a US president to the Knesset since 2008, and it came on the same day that the last 20 living hostages held in Gaza were released by Hamas.
“This is a day of profound joy after two harrowing years,” Trump said to thunderous applause from lawmakers who chanted his name. “This moment represents not only the end of a war, but the beginning of what will soon be a magnificent region.”
Under the terms of the ceasefire, Israel released 250 Palestinian prisoners and more than 1,700 other detainees captured during its two-year military campaign in Gaza.
Trump is also scheduled to attend a peace summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, alongside Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and other world leaders to discuss the next phase of his 20-point peace plan.
Introducing the American president, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Trump as the “greatest friend” Israel has ever had in the White House.
“Everything changed in America’s attitude toward Israel’s campaign in Gaza when Trump was re-elected,” Netanyahu said, thanking him for his “unremitting help” in securing the return of the remaining hostages abducted in the October 7, 2023 attacks.
Trump returned the compliment, joking, “He’s not the easiest guy to deal with, but that’s what makes him great.”
The parliamentary chamber erupted in cheers, with lawmakers wearing red caps reading “Trump the Peace President” — a nod to his campaign-style slogan.
Key members of Trump’s delegation, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, joined him for the visit. Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump also received loud applause for their roles in brokering the ceasefire.
The Israeli parliamentary speaker described Trump as “the most deserving candidate for next year’s Nobel Peace Prize,” while a few lawmakers opposed to the ceasefire boycotted the session.
Earlier, aboard Air Force One, Trump had announced that “the war is over” in Gaza, pledging that the ceasefire would hold and that a new ‘board of peace’ would soon be established to administer the territory.
