From Israel.- Donald Trump entered the Knesset plenary session five minutes before 1 p.m. local time, and after a standing ovation of more than three minutes, delivered his speech in an atmosphere of emotion, inside and outside Parliament. Today, after 738 days, there are no more hostages alive in the hands of the Hamas terrorist group. The war in Gaza is over.
“Today the skies are calm, the guns are silent, the sirens have been silenced, and the sun rises over a holy land that is finally at peace,” the American stated. He added: “This land and this region, God willing, will live in peace for all eternity.”
The American recalled that no one thought he would succeed. He was always attacked, reflecting his confrontational style. However, he affirmed, the agreement was reached."It feels good to say it, the 20 hostages are back!"
The US president emphasized that he was not only seeking the return of the hostages, but would also seek to maintain the agreement and make it lasting. “This is not just the end of a war; it is the end of an era of terror and the beginning of an era of faith and hope, and of God. It is the beginning of great concord and lasting harmony for all the nations of what will soon be a truly magnificent region. I firmly believe that. This is the historic dawn of a new Middle East.”
For Trump, “As the dust settles, the smoke dissipates, the rubble recedes, and the ash clears from the air, dawn breaks on a transformed region, and a beautiful, much brighter future suddenly appears within reach. This is a very exciting moment for Israel and the entire Middle East, because across the region, the forces of chaos, terror, and ruin that have plagued it for decades are now weakened, isolated, and utterly defeated.”
And almost in a tone of promise, he said:"A new coalition of proud and responsible nations is emerging. And thanks to us, the enemies of all civilization are in retreat."
“From October 7th until this week, Israel has been a nation at war, bearing burdens that only a proud and faithful people could bear. It was a very difficult time. For so many families across the country, it has been years since they knew a single day of true peace. But now, at last, not only for Israelis, but also for Palestinians and many others, the long and painful nightmare is finally over.”
The American also announced that at the Egyptian summit with Arab countries, he will seek greater cooperation with Israel, as is the case with the four nations that signed the Abraham Accords during his first presidency."Now, when I see them, I'm going to tell them that we would love for them all to join."
During his speech, he even allowed himself to insist on political unity in Israel. “You’re not at war anymore, you can be nicer, Bibi,” he told Netanyahu, pointing to Yair Lapid, the opposition leader seeking rapprochement. Just as he pressured him, he also sought to show his support, and in an unexpected comment, he addressed Israeli President Isaac Herzog. “Hey, I have an idea. Why don’t you pardon him?” Trump said, seeking to help his ally in some of the multiple legal proceedings in which he is accused of corruption. He added with a knowing look: “This wasn’t in the speech, as you probably know. But I happen to like this gentleman here (representing Netanyahu), and I think it makes a lot of sense.”
A message to the Palestinians
The American took advantage of the microphones to address the Palestinian people, urging them to distance themselves from extremism after the ceasefire."The choice for the Palestinians could not be clearer. This is their opportunity to permanently turn away from the path of terrorism and violence," he stated.
Less than 24 hours in the Middle East in search of peace
The U.S. president arrived in Israel at 9:30 a.m. this morning and was greeted at Ben-Gurion Airport by President Isaac Herzog and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The official agenda included private meetings with Netanyahu and his historic Knesset speech.
The agreement reached, the result of intense negotiations in which Trump played a central role, began to be implemented this morning when the release of the hostages who had been held captive by the Hamas terrorist group in Gaza for more than two years began.
The American's vision focused on achieving concrete results in the short term, without immediately addressing the most complex issues."If a comprehensive negotiation had been attempted, we would not have achieved these results," they suggested days ago... Now begins the second phase, just as complex—a priori—as achieving the releases. Although the agreement represents a major step forward, its limits are evident: it does not imply the immediate disarmament of Hamas or a total withdrawal of Israeli forces.
After his quick visit to Israel, the American will fly to the Egyptian city of Sharm el-Sheikh, where more than 20 world leaders, including the leaders of the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain and France, confirmed their attendance at the summit co-chaired by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. The main objective of the meeting is to sign an agreement that will end the war in Gaza and lay the foundations for a new era of stability in the Middle East.
Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani stated that “Hamas is willing to discuss how it will not pose a threat to Israel,” although no leader of the terrorist group has publicly confirmed this willingness or agreed to full disarmament. The international community, for its part, insists on the need to move toward the reconstruction of Gaza and the creation of a Palestinian state, although doubts remain about the leadership and viability of that project.
The political impact of this episode is profound. For Israel, the release of the hostages and the partial troop withdrawal offer a respite after months of isolation and international criticism, but they also expose the fragility of its position and the challenges facing the Netanyahu government. For Trump, the agreement represents a major victory and an opportunity to demonstrate his negotiating skills and gain international recognition.
The pact's implementation will depend on still-uncertain factors, such as Hamas's actual willingness to lay down its weapons and the international community's ability to guarantee stability in Gaza.
In this context, the Sharm el-Sheikh summit will be key, and its success will be measured by achievements. The list of tasks is as broad as it is complicated: they seek to formalize a peace plan that includes the disarmament of Hamas, the creation of an international security force, and the establishment of a new government in Gaza. The process also includes the reconstruction of the enclave and international coordination to ensure lasting stability.
Today, Trump achieved his first major geopolitical triumph. He flew to the Middle East, enjoyed the acclaim, and now it's time to prove that what seems like an opportunity can become history.
