President Trump delivered a pivotal address to the Israeli Knesset after the return of 20 Israeli hostages from Gaza. The speech was marked by multiple standing ovations and overwhelming praise from lawmakers and leaders who lauded Trump’s diplomatic achievement.
The event unfolded shortly after the completion of Hamas’s handover of the final hostages, ending a harrowing 737-day ordeal.
All hostages were safely transferred to Israeli medical teams for evaluation, and the Knesset chamber buzzed with relief and gratitude.
Why was Trump’s Knesset speech historic?
Trump’s speech to the Knesset took place only hours after a tense ceasefire yielded the release of remaining hostages held in Gaza. The address drew a prolonged two-minute standing ovation as Trump entered the chamber.
Israeli Speaker Amir Ohana presented the achievement as historically unmatched, stating that no foreign leader had ever received such a reception in Parliament before.
Multiple lawmakers rose to describe Trump as a 'colossus', vowing that his role in freeing hostages would be remembered for generations.
The atmosphere was likened to that of previous landmark legislative sessions in Israeli history, underscoring its significance.
Did you know?
The Israeli Presidential Medal of Honor (or Israeli Presidential Medal of Distinction, as it was formerly known) is considered the highest civilian decoration awarded by the President of the State of Israel.
How did Israeli leaders honor Trump?
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dubbed Trump the “greatest friend that the State of Israel has ever had in the White House” and announced his nomination for the Israel Prize, the country’s highest cultural honor.
Meanwhile, Israeli President Isaac Herzog confirmed Trump would receive the Presidential Medal of Honor, the highest civilian award, for successfully brokering both the ceasefire and hostage release.
Speaker Ohana also pledged to rally global support for Trump’s candidacy for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize, publicly urging U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson and other world leaders to endorse the bid.
Both coalition and opposition leaders acknowledged Trump’s decisive role, describing his efforts as foundational to future peace in the Middle East.
What did Trump say about Middle East peace?
Trump declared that the day marked “the historic dawn of a new Middle East,” emphasizing the end of ongoing war and uncertainty.
He complemented Israeli resilience and said, “After so many years of unceasing war, the skies are calm, the guns are silent, the sirens are still.”
His speech focused on forging lasting peace through regional cooperation and economic renewal.
He lauded his negotiating team for tireless work and predicted that “today is only the beginning” for new partnerships in the Middle East.
Trump praised both Israeli and American envoys for setting a template for future ceasefire arrangements.
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Who helped negotiate the hostage release?
Trump named Jared Kushner, Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio as key figures who collaborated across national boundaries to broker the complex deal.
He credited joint teams with relentlessly pursuing each negotiating round until the final handover.
Israeli military officials confirmed that American diplomats coordinated closely with their Israeli counterparts, allowing the transfer to occur smoothly and without incident.
Lawmakers thanked negotiators for their determination and transparency throughout prolonged talks.
What are the next steps after the ceasefire?
Following his address to the Knesset, Trump departed for Egypt, where he is co-chairing a major international peace summit in Sharm el-Sheikh.
More than 20 global leaders, including Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, convened to discuss the future of Gaza and outline further steps for peace throughout the region.
Israeli parliamentarians agreed to establish a new joint commission to follow up on the terms of the ceasefire and support Gaza’s humanitarian recovery.
The next phase of negotiations is expected to address security guarantees and long-term regional stability. Monday’s historic events redefined the dynamics of diplomacy in the Middle East.
With hostages safe and international accolades pouring in, Trump’s initiative set the stage for broader transformations, igniting hopes for a peaceful future.
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