US President Donald Trump addressed Israel ’s parliament, the Knesset, on Monday, declaring that “the long and painful nightmare is finally over” after helping broker a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. Trump told cheering lawmakers, “This long and difficult war has ended. In an unprecedented achievement, virtually the entire region has endorsed the plan that Gaza will be demilitarised and Hamas will be disarmed, and Israel's security will not be threatened.”
Speaking for the first time in Israel since his re-election, Donald Trump described the day as marking “the moment that everything began to change, and change very much for the better” in the Middle East. He framed the agreement as “the most challenging breakthrough of them all, the most challenging breakthrough maybe ever.”
The US president, who arrived in Tel Aviv on Air Force One before flying to Egypt for a Gaza summit, hailed the “historic dawn of a new Middle East,” echoing language he had used during his first presidency when Israel signed deals with Arab states. “At last, not only for Israelis but also Palestinians, the long and painful nightmare is finally over,” he said.
Trump praises Netanyahu , calls for pardon
During his address, Trump paid tribute to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, describing him as “a man of exceptional courage and patriotism whose partnership did so much to make this momentous day possible.” The US president also made an extraordinary call for Netanyahu to be pardoned amid ongoing legal troubles.
Trump said, “We have settled 8 wars in 8 months, including this one. If we go into a war, we are going to win it like nobody ever has won it before. We will not be politically correct.”
The appeal for Netanyahu’s pardon comes as the Israeli leader faces a trio of corruption cases. However, only Israel’s President, Isaac Herzog, can grant clemency. Last month, Herzog told Israel’s Army Radio: “The Netanyahu case weighs heavily on Israeli society,” and said he would consider any pardon request “with full transparency.”
Many Israelis have accused Netanyahu of prolonging the Gaza war to distract from domestic legal troubles, allegations the prime minister denies. Before the October 7 attacks, he faced mass protests with hundreds of thousands demanding his resignation. Netanyahu has repeatedly requested to postpone his trial testimony during the war.
Trump hails Gaza ceasefire and hostage release
Trump’s speech came on the day that all living Israeli hostages held in Gaza were released by Hamas. “After two harrowing years of darkness and captivity, 20 courageous hostages are returning to the glorious embrace of their families. And it is glorious. 28 more precious loved ones are coming home at last to rest in this sacred soil for all of time,” he said.
Trump called the ceasefire a triumph and thanked Arab and Muslim nations for pressuring Hamas to release the hostages. “Let me also convey my tremendous appreciation for all of the nations of the Arab and Muslim world that came together to press Hamas to set the hostages free and to send them home. We had a lot of help, we had a lot of help from a lot of people that you wouldn't suspect, and I want to thank them very much for that,” Trump said.
Under the ceasefire, Israel will release nearly 2,000 Palestinian detainees in exchange for the hostages.
New era for the region
Trump framed the ceasefire as a turning point for the Middle East. “Dawn is breaking on a region transformed, and a beautiful and much brighter future appears suddenly within your reach,” he said. He argued that the deal with Hamas could serve as a galvanizing moment to end regional enmities that have persisted for decades.
Trump also referenced US military action in the region. He claimed the peace deal “would not have been possible without the United States bombing Iran’s nuclear facilities,” adding that he believes Iran is prepared to make a deal of its own.
Too soon to celebrate?
As Trump characterised the ceasefire and hostage release as a transformative moment for the region. He portrayed the agreement as a turning point that would pave the way for lasting peace and stability, while commending Israeli PM Netanyahu for his role in accepting the deal.
However, not everyone shares Trump’s optimism. Analysts and mediators have cautioned that several critical issues remain unresolved.
"The blame is on Hamas, because it could have been done all these steps earlier, but they refused to discuss disarmament or relinquishing control," said Amos Yadlin, a former head of military intelligence for Israel who runs MIND Israel, a strategic consulting company. "But it is also on Netanyahu, because it wasn't until last summer that he was even willing to lay out demands for ending the war."
"Trump succeeded in convincing Prime Minister Netanyahu to do what perhaps should have been done right after Israel's victory over Iran -- or even earlier, during the second phase of the January 2025 deal," Yadlin wrote on Sunday in The Jerusalem Post.
Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, one of the key mediators, also acknowledged that thornier questions were deliberately left for later. “If we went for full-package negotiations, we wouldn't have reached these results,” he said, NYT reported. "Hamas are actually open to have a discussion about how they won't pose a threat for Israel," the prime minister said.
Recognition for key negotiators
Trump praised negotiators who helped broker the agreement. He singled out foreign envoy Steve Witkoff , calling him “Henry Kissinger, who doesn’t leak. He’s a great negotiator, because he’s a great guy.” Trump also acknowledged Jared Kushner, his son-in-law and adviser, and Israel’s Ron Dermer for their contributions. “I want to thank Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, and Ron Dermer. For their great contribution to this effort,” Netanyahu added during the session.
The Knesset erupted in applause for the diplomats, with some members wearing red caps reading “Trump the Peace President.”
Tributes to Israeli soldiers and civilians
Trump and Netanyahu paid tribute to Israeli forces and citizens affected by the war. Trump said the deal ensured Israel’s security while acknowledging the sacrifices made during the conflict. Netanyahu highlighted the toll on soldiers and civilians, noting that nearly 2,000 Israeli soldiers had died and thousands more were wounded during the military campaign in Gaza. He recounted individual stories of heroism, including that of Ari Spits, an American-Israeli soldier who survived a Hamas attack despite losing three limbs.
Netanyahu said, “Because of these heroes, our nation will survive. Because of these heroes, our nations will thrive. And because of these heroes, our nation will have peace.” He also paid tribute to families of the fallen and victims of Hamas attacks, recounting the killings at the Nova Music Festival and the abduction of Israelis.
Two Knesset members removed after protest
Two members of the Israeli parliament were removed from the chamber during Trump’s speech after holding signs reading “Recognize Palestine,” according to The New York Times and The Jerusalem Post. Hadash Party leader Ayman Odeh and MK Ofer Cassif were escorted out while Trump was speaking about Steve Witkoff.
The Knesset speaker instructed officials to expel the members, and security quickly led them out of the main chamber as lawmakers applauded to divert attention. Trump commented on the removal, saying, “That was very efficient,” before returning to his speech.
Odeh later posted on X: “The amount of hypocrisy in the plenum is unbearable. To crown Netanyahu through flattery the likes of which has never been seen, through an orchestrated group, does not absolve him and his government of the crimes against humanity committed in Gaza, nor of the responsibility for the blood of hundreds of thousands of Palestinian victims and thousands of Israeli victims.”
Trump outlines US-Israel partnership and global leadership
Trump’s speech emphasised the role of US leadership in achieving peace. “With our military pressure, and President Trump's global leadership, we achieved this historic moment,” Netanyahu said. Trump highlighted US action against Iran and the Houthi leadership in Yemen, and claimed to have ended wars in eight regions in under nine months.
He said, “True peace is achieved through strength. And that only those who are prepared to use force in the present can prevent the need to use it in the future.” The US president also indicated that ending the war between Russia and Ukraine would be his next focus.
Trump, Netanyahu highlight historic achievements
Netanyahu and Trump recalled prior achievements in US-Israel relations. Netanyahu thanked Trump for recognising Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, for backing Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, for the Abraham Accords, and for withdrawing from the Iran nuclear deal. Trump’s role in facilitating Israel’s military operations and hostage negotiations was repeatedly praised.
Netanyahu said, “Donald Trump is the greatest friend that the state of Israel has ever had in the White House. No American president has ever done more for Israel, and as I said in Washington. It ain't even close. It's really not a match.”
Trump, in turn, highlighted the historic significance of the moment. “Thousands of years from now, Mr. President, the Jewish people will remember you,” Netanyahu said.
Egypt summit and Gaza recovery
Following the Knesset address, Donald Trump travelled to Egypt for a summit on Gaza’s future alongside Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and other world leaders. Aid preparations for Gaza are underway after extensive destruction during the two-year war, which began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants attacked Israel, killing roughly 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages.
Hamas handed over 20 surviving Israeli hostages under the ceasefire. Israel is also releasing nearly 2,000 Palestinian detainees as part of the agreement.
Trump described the ceasefire as a “triumph for Israel and the world” and credited global cooperation for securing the deal. “It’s an incredible triumph for Israel and the world to have all of these nations working together as partners in peace,” he said.
Historic day for Israel and the Middle East
Trump framed his visit and speech as a turning point in Middle East history. He hailed the return of hostages, the demilitarisation of Gaza, and a path toward a “brighter future” for the region. “We are in history. It is a very exciting day for the citizens of Israel, a day that we all wish for,” he said.
Netanyahu echoed the sentiment, emphasising that Israel remains vigilant but hopeful. “Hope is our national anthem. Hope is our creed. Hope is our strength. It is time, my friends, to realize that hope and expand the circle of peace,” he said.
Trump’s address to the Knesset marks the first visit by a US president since 2008 and underscores the centrality of US-Israel cooperation in ending the Gaza conflict, restoring hostages, and paving the way for regional peace initiatives.
Speaking for the first time in Israel since his re-election, Donald Trump described the day as marking “the moment that everything began to change, and change very much for the better” in the Middle East. He framed the agreement as “the most challenging breakthrough of them all, the most challenging breakthrough maybe ever.”
The US president, who arrived in Tel Aviv on Air Force One before flying to Egypt for a Gaza summit, hailed the “historic dawn of a new Middle East,” echoing language he had used during his first presidency when Israel signed deals with Arab states. “At last, not only for Israelis but also Palestinians, the long and painful nightmare is finally over,” he said.
Trump praises Netanyahu , calls for pardon
During his address, Trump paid tribute to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, describing him as “a man of exceptional courage and patriotism whose partnership did so much to make this momentous day possible.” The US president also made an extraordinary call for Netanyahu to be pardoned amid ongoing legal troubles.
Trump said, “We have settled 8 wars in 8 months, including this one. If we go into a war, we are going to win it like nobody ever has won it before. We will not be politically correct.”
The appeal for Netanyahu’s pardon comes as the Israeli leader faces a trio of corruption cases. However, only Israel’s President, Isaac Herzog, can grant clemency. Last month, Herzog told Israel’s Army Radio: “The Netanyahu case weighs heavily on Israeli society,” and said he would consider any pardon request “with full transparency.”
Many Israelis have accused Netanyahu of prolonging the Gaza war to distract from domestic legal troubles, allegations the prime minister denies. Before the October 7 attacks, he faced mass protests with hundreds of thousands demanding his resignation. Netanyahu has repeatedly requested to postpone his trial testimony during the war.
Trump hails Gaza ceasefire and hostage release
Trump’s speech came on the day that all living Israeli hostages held in Gaza were released by Hamas. “After two harrowing years of darkness and captivity, 20 courageous hostages are returning to the glorious embrace of their families. And it is glorious. 28 more precious loved ones are coming home at last to rest in this sacred soil for all of time,” he said.
Trump called the ceasefire a triumph and thanked Arab and Muslim nations for pressuring Hamas to release the hostages. “Let me also convey my tremendous appreciation for all of the nations of the Arab and Muslim world that came together to press Hamas to set the hostages free and to send them home. We had a lot of help, we had a lot of help from a lot of people that you wouldn't suspect, and I want to thank them very much for that,” Trump said.
Under the ceasefire, Israel will release nearly 2,000 Palestinian detainees in exchange for the hostages.
New era for the region
Trump framed the ceasefire as a turning point for the Middle East. “Dawn is breaking on a region transformed, and a beautiful and much brighter future appears suddenly within your reach,” he said. He argued that the deal with Hamas could serve as a galvanizing moment to end regional enmities that have persisted for decades.
Trump also referenced US military action in the region. He claimed the peace deal “would not have been possible without the United States bombing Iran’s nuclear facilities,” adding that he believes Iran is prepared to make a deal of its own.
Too soon to celebrate?
As Trump characterised the ceasefire and hostage release as a transformative moment for the region. He portrayed the agreement as a turning point that would pave the way for lasting peace and stability, while commending Israeli PM Netanyahu for his role in accepting the deal.
However, not everyone shares Trump’s optimism. Analysts and mediators have cautioned that several critical issues remain unresolved.
"The blame is on Hamas, because it could have been done all these steps earlier, but they refused to discuss disarmament or relinquishing control," said Amos Yadlin, a former head of military intelligence for Israel who runs MIND Israel, a strategic consulting company. "But it is also on Netanyahu, because it wasn't until last summer that he was even willing to lay out demands for ending the war."
"Trump succeeded in convincing Prime Minister Netanyahu to do what perhaps should have been done right after Israel's victory over Iran -- or even earlier, during the second phase of the January 2025 deal," Yadlin wrote on Sunday in The Jerusalem Post.
Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, one of the key mediators, also acknowledged that thornier questions were deliberately left for later. “If we went for full-package negotiations, we wouldn't have reached these results,” he said, NYT reported. "Hamas are actually open to have a discussion about how they won't pose a threat for Israel," the prime minister said.
Recognition for key negotiators
Trump praised negotiators who helped broker the agreement. He singled out foreign envoy Steve Witkoff , calling him “Henry Kissinger, who doesn’t leak. He’s a great negotiator, because he’s a great guy.” Trump also acknowledged Jared Kushner, his son-in-law and adviser, and Israel’s Ron Dermer for their contributions. “I want to thank Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, and Ron Dermer. For their great contribution to this effort,” Netanyahu added during the session.
The Knesset erupted in applause for the diplomats, with some members wearing red caps reading “Trump the Peace President.”
Tributes to Israeli soldiers and civilians
Trump and Netanyahu paid tribute to Israeli forces and citizens affected by the war. Trump said the deal ensured Israel’s security while acknowledging the sacrifices made during the conflict. Netanyahu highlighted the toll on soldiers and civilians, noting that nearly 2,000 Israeli soldiers had died and thousands more were wounded during the military campaign in Gaza. He recounted individual stories of heroism, including that of Ari Spits, an American-Israeli soldier who survived a Hamas attack despite losing three limbs.
Netanyahu said, “Because of these heroes, our nation will survive. Because of these heroes, our nations will thrive. And because of these heroes, our nation will have peace.” He also paid tribute to families of the fallen and victims of Hamas attacks, recounting the killings at the Nova Music Festival and the abduction of Israelis.
Two Knesset members removed after protest
Two members of the Israeli parliament were removed from the chamber during Trump’s speech after holding signs reading “Recognize Palestine,” according to The New York Times and The Jerusalem Post. Hadash Party leader Ayman Odeh and MK Ofer Cassif were escorted out while Trump was speaking about Steve Witkoff.
The Knesset speaker instructed officials to expel the members, and security quickly led them out of the main chamber as lawmakers applauded to divert attention. Trump commented on the removal, saying, “That was very efficient,” before returning to his speech.
Odeh later posted on X: “The amount of hypocrisy in the plenum is unbearable. To crown Netanyahu through flattery the likes of which has never been seen, through an orchestrated group, does not absolve him and his government of the crimes against humanity committed in Gaza, nor of the responsibility for the blood of hundreds of thousands of Palestinian victims and thousands of Israeli victims.”
Trump outlines US-Israel partnership and global leadership
Trump’s speech emphasised the role of US leadership in achieving peace. “With our military pressure, and President Trump's global leadership, we achieved this historic moment,” Netanyahu said. Trump highlighted US action against Iran and the Houthi leadership in Yemen, and claimed to have ended wars in eight regions in under nine months.
He said, “True peace is achieved through strength. And that only those who are prepared to use force in the present can prevent the need to use it in the future.” The US president also indicated that ending the war between Russia and Ukraine would be his next focus.
Trump, Netanyahu highlight historic achievements
Netanyahu and Trump recalled prior achievements in US-Israel relations. Netanyahu thanked Trump for recognising Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, for backing Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, for the Abraham Accords, and for withdrawing from the Iran nuclear deal. Trump’s role in facilitating Israel’s military operations and hostage negotiations was repeatedly praised.
Netanyahu said, “Donald Trump is the greatest friend that the state of Israel has ever had in the White House. No American president has ever done more for Israel, and as I said in Washington. It ain't even close. It's really not a match.”
Trump, in turn, highlighted the historic significance of the moment. “Thousands of years from now, Mr. President, the Jewish people will remember you,” Netanyahu said.
Egypt summit and Gaza recovery
Following the Knesset address, Donald Trump travelled to Egypt for a summit on Gaza’s future alongside Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and other world leaders. Aid preparations for Gaza are underway after extensive destruction during the two-year war, which began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants attacked Israel, killing roughly 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages.
Hamas handed over 20 surviving Israeli hostages under the ceasefire. Israel is also releasing nearly 2,000 Palestinian detainees as part of the agreement.
Trump described the ceasefire as a “triumph for Israel and the world” and credited global cooperation for securing the deal. “It’s an incredible triumph for Israel and the world to have all of these nations working together as partners in peace,” he said.
Historic day for Israel and the Middle East
Trump framed his visit and speech as a turning point in Middle East history. He hailed the return of hostages, the demilitarisation of Gaza, and a path toward a “brighter future” for the region. “We are in history. It is a very exciting day for the citizens of Israel, a day that we all wish for,” he said.
Netanyahu echoed the sentiment, emphasising that Israel remains vigilant but hopeful. “Hope is our national anthem. Hope is our creed. Hope is our strength. It is time, my friends, to realize that hope and expand the circle of peace,” he said.
Trump’s address to the Knesset marks the first visit by a US president since 2008 and underscores the centrality of US-Israel cooperation in ending the Gaza conflict, restoring hostages, and paving the way for regional peace initiatives.
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