Trump’s address to the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, comes on the day that the last 20 living hostages held in the Palestinian enclave were released by Hamas.
US President Donald Trump
As Hamas Monday released 20 Israeli hostages who were in its captivity for two years since the October 7, 2023, attack, US President Donald Trump whose efforts led to the Gaza peace deal delivered remarks to Israel’s Knesset in Jerusalem.
“After two harrowing years in darkness and captivity, 20 courageous hostages are returning to the glorious embrace of their families… Today, the sun rises on a Holy Land that is finally at peace,” Trump said.
Advertisement
“This is the beginning of the age of faith and hope… this is the historic dawn of a new Middle East,” Trump added.
Advertisement
The US President further declared, “At last, the long and painful nightmare is finally over — not just for Israelis, but for Palestinians as well.”
He described the ceasefire he helped broker as “the most challenging breakthrough of them all, perhaps the most challenging ever.” Trump also signaled that his next focus would be on ending the war between Russia and Ukraine.
The speech faced a brief interruption when an opposition Parliament member displayed a sign reading “Recognise Palestine,” leading to at least one person being escorted out of the chamber.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump met this afternoon at the Knesset, with families of deceased and returning hostages, wounded IDF soldiers, those who were injured in terrorist attacks on October 7 and bereaved families.
Netanyahu expressed his gratitude for Donald Trump for his contribution in stopping the Israel-Gaza war. The Israeli Prime Minister called Trump Israel’s greatest friend and plans to applaud him with Israel’s greatest honour.
“I have never seen anyone move the world so quickly, so decisively as President Trump,” Netanyahu lauded Trump.
Netanyahu, at a special session of the Knesset in honour of US President Trump, said, “Thank you for brokering the Abraham Accord, withdrawing from the disastrous Iran nuclear deal, supporting Operation Rising Lion, and for your bold decision to launch Operation Midnight Hammer… A little after midnight, you really hammered them (Iran). Donald Trump is the greatest friend Israel has ever had in the White House.”
No American President has ever done this much for Israel, Netanyahu added.
Trump’s address to the Israeli Parliament, the Knesset, comes on the day that the last 20 living hostages held in the Palestinian enclave were released by Hamas.
Israel is releasing 250 Palestinian prisoners and more than 1,700 other Palestinians detained during the two-year military operations in Gaza.
During a whirlwind trip to the region, Trump will also attend a peace summit in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, alongside Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and other world leaders.
Advertisement
