Trump says ‘This is historic dawn of new Middle East’ at Knesset on Israeli hostage release
By Anjali Sharma
WASHINGTON – US President DONALD Trump on Monday addressed the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, said that the last 20 living hostages held in the Palestinian enclave Gaza were released by Hamas, militant group.
According to media reports Hamas released 20 Israeli hostages who were in its captivity for two years since the October 7, 2023, attack.
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.
Trump added “This is the beginning of the age of faith and hope… this is the historic dawn of a new Middle East”.
He declared, “At last, the long and painful nightmare is finally over — not just for Israelis, but for Palestinians as well.”
Trump described the ceasefire he helped broker as “the most challenging breakthrough of them all, perhaps the most challenging ever.”
He 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 “Recognize Palestine,” led to at least one person being escorted out of the chamber.
Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump met on Monday 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, media reports said.
Netanyahu expressed his gratitude for Donald Trump for his contribution in stopping the Israel-Gaza war.
He called Trump Israel’s greatest friend and plans to applaud him with Israel’s greatest honor.
“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 honor 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.
Israel is releasing 250 Palestinian prisoners and over 1,700 other Palestinians detained during the two-year military operations in Gaza, media reported.
Trump will also attend a peace summit in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, alongside Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and other world leaders and the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres.
