During a speech to the Israeli parliament on Monday, President Donald Trump declared ‘the dawn of a new Middle East,’ more than two years after Hamas militants had launched an invasion of Israel, triggering a devastating war in Gaza that resulted in the loss of around 67,000 lives.

‘You’ve won,’ the president proclaimed to the Knesset. ‘And now you can build and you can do things that you never even thought possible.’ 

‘It heralds the golden age for Israel and an era of prosperity for the entire Middle East,’ Trump proclaimed. ‘This is not merely the conclusion of a conflict. It’s the end of an era of terror and destruction, and the commencement of a time characterized by faith, hope, and divine promise.’

‘This is a historic new beginning for the Middle East,’ he continued. ‘As the dust settles, smoke dissipates, rubble is cleared, and ashes are swept away, a transformed region emerges—and a remarkable and radiant future suddenly becomes attainable.’

Upon Trump’s arrival in Israel early Monday, the 20 Israeli hostages were handed over to Israeli authorities, while hundreds of Palestinian detainees were transported to the West Bank.

For the first time in over two years, Hamas no longer holds any Israeli captives. Over 1,900 Palestinian prisoners detained by Israel will also be released under this agreement.

This landmark development underscores Trump’s shift from a New York businessman to a global mediator. His achievements were celebrated with a lengthy standing ovation from the Knesset, which erupted in cheers, chanting ‘Trump, Trump, Trump…’

The US president also said that his next project is ‘getting Russia done’ and ending the war in Ukraine.  

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. 

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. 

And Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu has emphasized that the current ceasefire is temporary and that Israel retains the option to resume its military operations if Hamas fails to meet the terms of the agreement, particularly regarding disarmament.

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. Trump also reiterated multiple times that the war is over, a claim that Netanyahu has danced around.

‘You can’t beat the world,’ Trump recounted telling Netanyahu.  

‘The Middle East is finally ready to embrace its extraordinary potential,’ Trump said during his speech. ‘You have extraordinary potential in this region.’

‘It should now be clear to everyone throughout the region that decades of fomenting terrorism and extremism, jihadism and anti-semitism have not worked.’

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.’

Ohana compared Trump to Cyrus the Great, the Persian king who allowed Jewish captives to return to their homeland in 538 BC. The Knesset speaker also shared that he will nominate Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize next year, and he will work with leaders around the world to ensure the Republicans’ victory, noting how no one is more worthy of the award. 

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. 

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.

Thousands of Israelis flocked to ‘Hostages Square’ in Tel Aviv to celebrate the release of the 20 living captives as they were shepherded from Gaza by the Red Cross. 

The emotional crowd was signing, some dancing, many crying, while a clock counting the 737 days of their imprisonment loomed overhead. 

When Trump’s image or name was shown or mentioned on TV monitors in the square, citizens there would cheer and celebrate, CNN reported, likening it to a ‘hero’s welcome.’ 

Before boarding Air Force One on Sunday, Trump noted how it was a privilege to visit Israel during the momentous occasion.

‘It’s an honor to be involved, and we’re going to have an amazing time, and it’s going to be something that’s never, never happened before.’

He said Gaza’s rebuilding process would begin ‘immediately,’ though acknowledged it would take time, calling the situation ‘the first chance it’s had in centuries of being peaceful’ and describing the region as having ‘always been a very, very strange area.’

Trump outlined plans for a ‘Board of Peace’ to govern Gaza, saying it would be established ‘very quickly’ and that world leaders have been calling to participate

While he said he knows the composition, he’s not ready to announce members publicly, though he confirmed speaking with Tony Blair about a potential role, adding he needs to ‘find out if he’s an acceptable choice for everybody.’

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.’