JERUSALEM (AP) — President was in Israel on Monday to celebrate the between before continuing on to Egypt for a key summit that he hopes will solidify an end to the war and pave the way for a more durable peace in the Middle East.
“This is a great day, this is a whole new beginning,” Trump told reporters after arriving at the Knesset. “And I think there’s never been an event like it, I’ve never seen anything like it.”
He received several standing ovations from Israeli lawmakers as he prepared to give a speech after meeting with the families of hostages. He may also stop at the Sheba Medical Center to meet some of the hostages themselves.
Twenty hostages were released Monday as part of an agreement intended to end the conflict that began with the Oct. 7, 2023, . By early afternoon, Israel also began to release Palestinian prisoners.
There was talk of Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu joining Trump in Egypt, along with more than two dozen other leaders. Egypt even announced his attendance after Netanyahu spoke with Egyptian President .
However, Netanyahu’s office said later that he would not be going because the summit was too close to the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah.
‘Historic dawn of a new Middle East’
Trump plans to declare “the historic dawn of a new Middle East” in his speech at the Knesset and that “generations from now, this will be remembered as the moment that everything began to change,” according to excerpts released by the White House.
Trump will also insist that “Israel has won all that can be won by force of arms” and “it is time to translate these victories against terrorists on the battlefield into the ultimate prize of peace and prosperity.”
In a gesture to Iran, which fought a brief war with Israel earlier this year, Trump plans to say that “the hand of friendship and cooperation is always open.”
Israeli President Isaac Herzog and Netanyahu greeted Trump on the tarmac as a military band played. In Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, the site of continuous demonstrations during two years of war, the crowd cheered for Trump.
Amir Ohana, the Knesset speaker, welcomed Trump to the parliament by saying “we’ve been longing for this day.” Some people in the gallery wore red hats that said ”Trump, The Peace President.”
A fragile moment
The moment remains fragile, with Israel and Hamas still in the early stages of implementing of Trump’s plan.
The first phase of the ceasefire agreement calls for the release of the final 48 hostages held by Hamas; the release of held by Israel; a surge of humanitarian aid to Gaza; and a partial pullback by Israeli forces from Gaza’s main cities.
With families overjoyed at the impending reunions and Palestinians eager for a surge of humanitarian assistance, Trump thinks there is a narrow window to reshape the region and reset long-fraught relations between Israel and its Arab neighbors.
“The war is over, OK?” Trump told reporters traveling with him aboard Air Force One.
“I think people are tired of it,” he said, emphasizing that he believed the ceasefire would hold because of that.
The Republican president said the chance of peace was enabled by his administration’s support of Israel’s decimation of Iranian proxies, including Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
The White House said momentum is also building because are demonstrating a renewed focus on resolving the broader, decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict and, in some cases, deepening relations with the United States.
In February, Trump had predicted that Gaza could be redeveloped into what he called “ .” But on Sunday aboard Air Force One, he was more circumspect.
“I don’t know about the Riviera for a while,” Trump said. “It’s blasted. This is like a demolition site.” But he said he hoped to one day visit the territory. “I’d like to put my feet on it, at least,” he said.
Trump will visit Israel first to meet with hostages’ families and address the Knesset, or parliament, an honor last extended to President George W. Bush in 2008.
On to Egypt
The president then will continue on to Egypt, where Trump and el-Sissi will lead a summit in Sharm el-Sheikh with leaders from more than 20 countries on peace in Gaza and the broader Middle East.
Both Israel and Egypt announced that Trump would receive their counties’ highest civilian honors.
The truce remains tenuous and the sides on Gaza’s postwar governance, the territory’s reconstruction and Israel’s demand that Hamas disarm. could break down, and Israel has hinted it may resume military operations if its demands are not met.
and the territory’s roughly 2 million residents continue to struggle in desperate conditions. Under the deal, Israel agreed to reopen five border crossings, which will help ease the flow of food and other supplies into Gaza, parts of which are experiencing famine.
Roughly 200 U.S. troops will help support and as part of a team that includes partner nations, nongovernmental organizations and private-sector players.
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Megerian reported from Washington. Associated Press writer Will Weissert in Washington contributed to this report.
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