London, UK, 2025-10-13
A wave of relief and cautious optimism swept across the Middle East as President Donald Trump arrived in Israel to celebrate the U.S.-brokered ceasefire and hostage deal between Israel and Hamas, boldly declaring that the two-year conflict in Gaza was officially “over.” The President’s high-stakes visit culminated in a major speech to the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, where he stood alongside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to herald what he called the “historic dawn of a new Middle East.” The message of the trip was clear: it is time to transition battlefield victories into a durable and lasting regional peace.
Headline Points
* War Declared ‘Over’: President Trump repeatedly and unequivocally declared “The war is over” aboard Air Force One and upon arrival, tying the end of the conflict directly to the successful ceasefire and ongoing release of Israeli hostages by Hamas.
* Knesset Address: The President delivered a highly anticipated speech to the Israeli Knesset, marking the first such address by a U.S. President in many years, where he outlined his vision for the post-conflict era.
* Victory to Peace: Trump insisted that “Israel has won all that can be won by force of arms” and that the time has come to “translate these victories against terrorists on the battlefield into the ultimate prize of peace and prosperity.”
* PM Netanyahu’s Gratitude: Prime Minister Netanyahu thanked President Trump for his personal involvement in securing the release of the living hostages, receiving a presidential welcome that underlined the renewed strength of the U.S.-Israel alliance.
* Regional Summit Push: The Israel visit was the first leg of a trip culminating in an international peace summit in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, aimed at solidifying the ceasefire and outlining the political framework for Gaza’s future.
A New Beginning in the Knesset
President Trump’s arrival at Ben Gurion International Airport was marked by a red-carpet reception from Prime Minister Netanyahu and Israeli President Isaac Herzog. Later, the President’s address to the Knesset was met with a standing ovation, with some lawmakers in the gallery wearing “Trump, The Peace President” hats, signaling the deep appreciation for the U.S. role in brokering the breakthrough agreement.
In his speech, excerpts of which were released by the White House, President Trump spoke of a “historic dawn of a new Middle East,” emphasizing that generations would remember this moment as when “everything began to change.” He hailed the courage of the Israeli people but pivoted to the need for political solutions.
“It is time to translate these victories… into the ultimate prize of peace and prosperity,” Trump stated, underscoring the transactional diplomacy that had led to the current ceasefire, which included the release of all remaining Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and a phased Israeli troop withdrawal.
The Alliance and the Gaza Vision
The warm public display of unity between President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu masked months of diplomatic “strong-arming” by Washington, which White House officials credited with finally forcing the Israeli government to accept the ceasefire deal.
While a joint press conference was not held on the day of the Knesset address, the leaders’ public remarks centered on shared celebration. Prime Minister Netanyahu, addressing the Knesset, thanked President Trump for his “help in bringing home all the Israeli living hostages,” a statement that drew cheers from lawmakers and a signature moment in the President’s visit.
President Trump also took a moment in his remarks to gesture toward Israel’s regional adversaries, saying, “the hand of friendship and cooperation is always open,” a move reportedly aimed at Iran, which had been involved in a brief military conflict with Israel earlier this year.
Behind the scenes, the discussions with the Prime Minister focused on the next, most challenging phase: implementing the 21-point U.S. peace plan. This framework calls for a full Israeli withdrawal, an international-led transitional government for Gaza, a vast economic development initiative, and a clear statement that the U.S. would not permit the annexation of the West Bank.
The Road to Sharm El-Sheikh
The Israeli visit was a precursor to an international peace summit in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, co-chaired by President Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. The summit is intended to solidify the ceasefire by securing international buy-in for Gaza’s post-war governance and reconstruction. Although Prime Minister Netanyahu confirmed he would be unable to attend the summit due to the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah, his government is expected to approve the initial phase of the deal.
President Trump’s decisive, one-day visit to Israel successfully marked the end of the devastating two-year war and set the stage for an ambitious regional pivot. His final message from Jerusalem was one of unwavering confidence: “This is the first time everybody is amazed and they’re thrilled, and it’s an honour to be involved. We’re going to have an amazing time, and it’s going to be something that’s never happened before.” The world now watches as President Trump attempts to translate this successful ceasefire into a “durable and everlasting” Middle East peace.
