The war in Gaza is over. That was the central message of US President Donald Trump from the Knesset during a historic day in which Hamas released its 20 surviving hostages, while Israel released nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners from Israel.

This was followed by the international summit in Sharm el Sheikh, where the first ceasefire document was signed by the United States, Egypt, Qatar and Turkey.

The release of the hostages marked, according to Trump, the historic dawn of a new Middle East.

The American president addressed the Israeli parliament amid prolonged applause and claimed that the skies are calm, the guns have fallen silent, and the sun is rising over the Holy Land, which is finally at peace.

Trump called on Israeli President Isaac Herzog to grant amnesty to Benjamin Netanyahu, who is on trial for corruption. Mr. President, why don't you grant amnesty to Netanyahu? , he said, and continued: Cigars and a little champagne... Who the hell cares?, referring to the fraud charges facing the Israeli prime minister, which he denies.

Elsewhere in his speech, Trump praised Netanyahu, but was quick to comment that he is not the easiest person to work with... But that is what makes him great.

Trump's speech to the Knesset

The second phase has begun

After his speech in Israel, Trump departed for Egypt, where he was welcomed by President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

Trump announced that the second phase of talks on Gaza had begun and expressed his desire for the Egyptian president to participate in the Gaza Council, describing him as a strong leader who keeps his country safe and with low crime.

From the city of Sharm el-Sheikh, the will of the people meets the determination of the leaders to end the war in Gaza, Sisi declared, adding: Enough with the war. Welcome to peace.

The summit was attended by more than 30 world leaders and heads of international organizations, including UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. The leaders were photographed together on the summit stage in Sharm el-Sheikh, with Trump smilingly declaring: We made a great deal today, so we're going to smile. The greatest deal ever.

The president of the United States declared: Finally, after 3,000 or 500 years - whatever it is - the war is over. This was the mother of all conflicts.

Trump, Sisi, Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan signed the agreement document, the content of which has not yet been made public.

This is a very comprehensive text that will set out rules, regulations and obligations, Trump said, describing the agreement as a change of historic scale that will be remembered forever.

He said that reconstruction is now beginning, which requires democratic governance and the demilitarization of Gaza. He reiterated his intention to promote a peace agreement with Iran, saying:"It would be great if we could make a deal with them. They want it too."

Al-Sisi affirmed that the two-state solution is the only path to lasting peace, while during the event, the Egyptian president awarded Trump the Order of the Nile, Egypt's highest honor.

The summit was also attended by the Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

Trump's full speech at the Sharm el-Sheikh summit

Trump on Erdogan: Tough guy, but my friend

Trump praised Erdogan, saying he has one of the most powerful armed forces in the world and is much more powerful than he lets on. He noted that Erdogan has won many conflicts, but he doesn’t ask for recognition. He just wants to be left alone. He added that he is a tough guy, but he is my friend, and always there when I need him.

Trump on Erdogan:

Erdogan has one of the most powerful armies in the world. He is much more powerful than he lets known.

He won many conflicts but he doesn't want any credit. He wants to be left alone.

He’s a tough cookie, but he’s my friend and always there when I need him.…

— Clash Report (@clashreport) October 13, 2025

Host Trump and his messages

Trump took on the role of host at the Sharm el-Sheikh summit, listing off the leaders attending one by one. He thanked Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif after his laudatory remarks, joking: Let's go home, there's nothing more to say.

He began to list the countries alphabetically, starting with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, continuing with the Arab League, Armenia, and Azerbaijan.

When he arrived in France, he said that Emmanuel Macron was probably standing somewhere behind me, and after realizing that he wasn't there, he added: I don't believe it, you have a very discreet presence today.

He praised Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, describing her as a beautiful and very successful politician.

Thanking the leaders who attended in Sharm el-Sheikh, Trump made an indirect reference to the fact that he was not awarded this year's Nobel Peace Prize by saying:"Oh, Norway, where are you?" The Norwegian prime minister was not in the picture.

I have some leaders I don't like, but I won't tell you who they are. You'll never know who they are. Or maybe you will, he also said.

Trump to world leaders: “I have a couple I don’t like, but I won’t tell you who. You’ll never find out who they are. Or maybe you will.”

— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) October 13, 2025

Moments of emotion with the hostages

According to the Israeli military, all surviving hostages have now been handed over to the Red Cross and taken to Israeli hospitals, while Hamas also handed over four coffins with the bodies of Israelis killed in captivity.

The Israeli Forces announced that the coffins were draped in Israeli flags in a ceremony in Gaza, before being taken to the National Institute of Forensic Medicine for identification.

In Ramallah, thousands of Palestinians welcomed buses carrying prisoners released under the deal.

Some of the Palestinians were driven towards Gaza, but also towards Egypt.

"I am happy for our sons who have returned, but the pain remains for those who were lost and for all the destruction that has befallen Gaza," a resident of the city of Khan Younis told Reuters. Despite the ceasefire, serious questions remain about the future of Gaza: who will govern it, who will provide security and who will finance reconstruction.

The UN humanitarian chief, Tom Fletcher, warned that hundreds of thousands of people still face the risk of famine.

The agreement, known as the first phase of the 20-point plan, completes the exchange of hostages and prisoners and paves the way for the second phase of stabilization and reconstruction.