• 14 Oct, 2025
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Trump heralds dawn of a new Middle East in historic speech in Israel as hostages are freed

President Donald Trump trumpeted the dawn of a ‘new Middle East’ during a speech before the Israeli parliament on Monday, just over two years after Hamas militants invaded Israel and sparked a harrowing war in Gaza that wiped out about 67,000 of its population. 

‘This is not only the end of a war. This is the end of an age of terror and death and the beginning of the age of faith and hope and of God.’

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Early Monday morning as Trump arrived in Israel, the 20 living Israeli hostages were released to Israeli forces and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners were delivered by the busload to the West Bank. 

For the first time in two years, Hamas no longer has any Israeli captives. Over 1,900 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel will also be set free as part of the deal.

The watershed moment solidifies Trump’s transition from New York dealmaker to global peacemaker. This was evident when the Knesset honored the US president with a nearly three-minute standing ovation and broke out in cheers, chanting ‘Trump, Trump, Trump…’ 

Trump’s daughter Ivanka Trump, her husband Jared Kushner, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Secretary of State Marco Rubio also received major applause. Kushner and Witkoff have been praised by Trump and the Israelis for their central role in negotiating the details of the peace agreement. 

Still, there are already questions whether the ceasefire can hold beyond the release of hostages and prisoners.

US President Donald Trump arrives to address the Knesset, with Amir Ohana, Speaker of the Israeli Knesset, and Israeli President Isaac Herzog on October 13, 2025, in Jerusalem

President Donald Trump signed a welcome book before speaking to Israel’s Knesset. ‘This is my great honor – a great and beautiful day. A new beginning,’ the president wrote as Israeli hostages were released from Gaza 

Over the weekend, a senior Hamas official told AFP that disarmament is ‘out of the question,’ declaring that demands for the group to hand over its weapons are non-negotiable. 

Trump, during his speech, noted the prime minister is not the easiest man to work with, but lauded his patriotism and resolve amid the years-long war. 

While the president was speaking, a protest briefly broke out during Trump’s remarks as a Knesset member banged on his desk and began shouting. The activists were swiftly removed from the room. 

Trump played it off swiftly by joking about how ‘efficient’ the security was in dealing with the rabble-rousers.   

Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana invited Trump to address Israel‘s main legislative body during his visit to oversee a hostage deal between Israel and Hamas that he brokered.

‘You, President Donald J. Trump, are a colossus,’ Ohana proclaimed as Trump sat next to him in the Knesset. ‘Thousands of years from now, the Jewish people will remember you.’

Trump is the fourth president to address the Knesset; only Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush had done it before. People spectating the Knesset address donned red MAGA-style caps reading: ‘Trump the peace president.’

As part of the deal Trump put together, 20 Israeli men who have survived two years of Hamas captivity were freed. Early Monday, the Israeli government said Hamas had released the 20 hostages as part of the ceasefire, and the hostages are with Israeli military forces. 

At least 67,800 Palestinians have been killed and more than 170,000 have been wounded since the start of the conflict, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.

Before stepping into the legislature, a reporter quizzed Trump about whether the war in Gaza is now officially over, ‘Yes,’ the president responded firmly. 

Netanyahu stood by Trump’s side as he declared an end to the conflict, which is expected to be formalized at a peace summit in Sharm el-Sheik, Egypt, later on Monday. 

The meeting in Egypt with world leaders is expected to discuss the path forward for rebuilding Gaza and bringing stability to the war-torn region. 

Ivanka Trump arrives before President Donald Trump speaks to the Knesset

Israelis overcome with emotion celebrate the release of hostages held by Hamas in Hostage Square in Tel Aviv

Leaders from Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, Pakistan and Indonesia are expected to attend the peace summit. 

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres are also scheduled to attend. 

Netanyahu, who was not originally invited to the summit, was invited by Egypt to attend the meeting. However, Netanyahu declined the invitation.

‘Prime Minister Netanyahu has been invited by US President Trump to participate in a conference to be held today in Egypt,’ a statement from the Israeli PM’s office said. ‘The Prime Minister thanked President Trump for the invitation but said he would not be able to attend due to the proximity of the holiday.’

Meanwhile, activists in Tel Aviv created a massive beach display thanking President Donald Trump for his role in securing the ceasefire agreement, according to CNN. 

The installation, positioned directly in front of the US Embassy’s Tel Aviv branch office, stretched across a length equivalent to three football fields. 

It featured the words ‘thank you’ and ‘home’ alongside a profile outline of Trump rendered in blue and yellow.

People wearing hats reading: ‘Trump The Peace President’ sit inside the Knesset

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (right) and President Isaac Herzog (left) welcomed former U.S. President Donald Trump (center) at Ben Gurion Airport, near Tel Aviv, on October 13, 2025. The visit marked the first stop of Trump’s trip to Israel and Egypt. During his stay, Trump is expected to address the Israeli parliament, meet with families of former hostages, and then travel to Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, for a major peace summit where a “document ending the war in the Gaza Strip” is anticipated to be signed.

In Tel Aviv, thousands of Israelis gathered at Hostages Square to celebrate the return of 20 freed captives escorted from Gaza by the Red Cross. The emotional crowd sang, danced, and wept as a massive clock displayed the 737 days the hostages had been held in captivity. According to CNN, whenever Trump’s image or name appeared on large TV screens in the square, the crowd erupted into cheers, likening the reaction to a “hero’s welcome.”

Before boarding Air Force One on Sunday, Trump described his visit as a privilege, calling it a historic and hopeful moment. “It’s an honor to be involved,” he said. “We’re going to have an amazing time, and it’s going to be something that’s never happened before.”

Trump announced that the rebuilding of Gaza would begin “immediately,” though he acknowledged the process would take time. He described the effort as “the first real chance in centuries for peace” in a region he called “a very, very complicated place.”

He also revealed plans to establish a Board of Peace to oversee Gaza’s transition, saying the body would be formed “very quickly” and has already attracted interest from global leaders.

While withholding specific names, Trump confirmed he has spoken with former U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair about a possible role, noting that he must “find out if he’s an acceptable choice for everybody” before making any formal announcement.

The square was full of thousands jubilant citizens as the two year war in Gaza nears its end 

A drone view shows thousands at Hostages Square on the day Hamas returned the surviving captives taken two years ago on October 7, 2023 

On his relationship with Netanyahu, Trump acknowledged they had ‘some disputes’ that ‘were quickly settled,’ and praised the Israeli leader as ‘the right person at the right time’ who has done ‘a great job.’ Trump also expressed interest in visiting Gaza, saying, ‘I’d like to put my feet on it at least.’

Speaking on Sunday night, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday marked ‘the beginning of a new path.’

He told the relatives of the remaining hostages that their release was a ‘historic event that some people did not believe would happen.’

He added: ‘Together we will continue to win, and with the help of God, together we will guarantee the eternity of the country and land of Israel.’

Read more

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• How did a Trump-brokered deal lead to the release of hostages in Gaza after 738 days of captivity?
• How will Trump’s historic arrival in Israel shape the critical hostage release negotiations and influence peace in the Gaza conflict?