Trump, world leaders sign Gaza peace deal after Hamas frees all living hostages

Former Vice President Kamala Harris is the latest high-profile Democrat to praise the president for brokering a deal between Israel and Hamas.

“Through diplomacy and perseverance, today is an important first step toward a more hopeful future,” Harris wrote in a statement posted to X on Monday night. “I congratulate the leaders and partners whose efforts made this agreement possible, including the president and his team.”

Trump has received praise from all three Democrats who ran against him in the presidential election: Harris, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former President Joe Biden.

Former President Bill Clinton also said Trump and his team “deserve great credit,” and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer praised the president.

Speaking to reporters as he returned from Monday’s peace summit, President Trump did not comment on whether he supports an independent Palestinian state, which some US allies in the region have supported.

A reporter asked Trump about a speech earlier Monday in which Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi argued that a two-state solution is the only path to peace in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The president responded: “I’m talking about something very different. We’re talking about rebuilding Gaza. I’m not talking about a single state, a double state or two states.”

“A lot of people like the one-state solution. Some people like the two-state solution. We’ll have to see. I haven’t commented on that,” he said.

Trump added: “At some point I will decide what I think is right, but it would be in coordination with other states.”

In recent weeks, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Trump have condemned calls for a Palestinian state, with Netanyahu calling it an “absurd reward for terrorism.”

the president 20-point peace proposal for Gaza he does not explicitly call for a Palestinian state, but calls statehood “the aspiration of the Palestinian people.” The plan states that if the Palestinian Authority is reformed and the Gaza Strip is rebuilt, “the conditions could finally exist for a credible path to self-determination and the creation of a Palestinian state.”

The White House released a peace declaration signed Monday by President Trump and the leaders of Egypt, Qatar and Türkiye.

The document praises Trump’s “sincere efforts to end the war in Gaza” and calls for “peace, security, stability and opportunity for all people in the region, including Palestinians and Israelis.” It also says future disputes should be resolved through “diplomatic compromise and negotiation rather than through force or protracted conflict.”

The statement offers few details on the way forward.

Former President Joe Biden praised President Trump for the ceasefire and hostage release agreement reached by Israel and Hamas.

“The path to this agreement was not easy. My administration worked tirelessly to bring the hostages home, provide aid to Palestinian civilians, and end the war,” Biden wrote in X. “I congratulate President Trump and his team for their work to get a renewed ceasefire agreement across the finish line.”

Jonathan Dekel-Chen, whose son was taken hostage on Oct. 7, 2023, and returned earlier this year, said he feels “jubilation” and “joy” after the last living hostages were freed early Monday.

“These are 20 young people who have emerged in a sense from Death Valley,” Dekel-Chen, Sagui Dekel-Chen’s father, told News themezone chief Washington correspondent Major Garrett.

“I will never forget that moment when we met with Sagui,” he said. The American-Israeli Sagui Dekel-Chen was released by Hamas in February under a separate two-month ceasefire agreement and hostage release.

He said he is still “very concerned that all parties will carry out this plan,” noting that the remains of 24 deceased Israeli hostages have yet to be returned.

He 20 live hostages released for Hamas on Monday include civilians and soldiers, brothers and fathers.

Among the freed hostages were twins Gali Berman and Ziv Berman, both 28, who were taken from their homes in the Kfar Aza kibbutz, on the border with the Gaza Strip, during the October 7 attack.

Several of the freed hostages were kidnapped at the Nova music festival, where nearly 400 people died and dozens were kidnapped. Among them was Eitan Mor, who worked as a security guard at the festival, where he helped evacuate people injured in the attack. The Israeli army released a photo on Monday that shows a smiling Mor hugging his parents.

Another Israeli kidnapped at the festival and released on Monday was Guy Gilboa-Dalal. His brother Gal managed to escape. “The hardest thing for me is that I really went there to take care of him, take care of my little brother, and I came back without him.” Gal Dalal told News themezone In May.

The oldest hostage freed on Monday was Omri Miran, 48, who was kidnapped from the Nahal Oz kibbutz. During the attack, terrorists took his family, including his two daughters, ages 2 and 6 months, hostage in the kitchen of a neighbor’s house and then broadcast it on Facebook Live.

Also on Monday, two hostages previously believed to be alive were confirmed dead: Bipin Joshi, 24, and Tamir Nimrodi, 20.

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer on Monday issued a statement celebrating the return of the remaining living Israeli hostages and praising President Trump and his administration.

“Today is a wonderful day. Finally, finally, finally, the last living hostages brutally held by Hamas are home, an immense and overwhelming sigh of relief,” said the New York legislator. “I commend the tremendous advocacy of the tireless hostage families, President Trump, his administration, and everyone who helped make this moment happen.”

“Today we celebrate the return of the hostages—the joyful images of their reunion with their families—and we solemnly reaffirm our commitment to bringing home all of the deceased hostages, including my constituents Omer Neutra and Itay Chen,” Schumer continued.

He also emphasized the importance of seizing the opportunity for “long-term, lasting peace.”

After just a few hours on the ground in Egypt, President Trump boarded Air Force One to return to the United States.

The president did not respond to reporters’ questions after greeting other world leaders.

It is expected to land in Washington early Tuesday morning.

The White House published a list of countries and organizations that had participated in the peace ceremony in Egypt: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Canada, Cyprus, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Netherlands, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Authority Palestine. Paraguay, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Türkiye, United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom.

The United Nations said an additional $11 million will be allocated from an emergency fund to support increased humanitarian aid in Gaza ahead of the winter months.

Farhan Haq, deputy spokesperson for the UN, said they are prepared to ensure that there are sufficient fuel supplies and life savings ready to enter Gaza after the ceasefire comes into effect.

Tom Fletcher, the UN humanitarian chief, warned that “without new contributions” of funding from member states, “critical aid cannot continue to flow to the people who depend on it.”

—By: News/AP

President Trump, speaking alongside leaders from the Middle East and Europe, said “a lot of money is going to come into Gaza” to help rebuild.

“I am pleased to announce that numerous countries of great wealth, power and dignity have approached me today and over the last week to tell me that they want to help in the reconstruction of Gaza, providing whatever money is necessary,” he said. “And the money, of course, is a lot of money, but it’s not much compared to the value or the wealth of these tremendous countries. And they are ensuring stability and success in the Middle East.”

The president did not name the countries that have pledged support, but indicated he would have more details once firm commitments had been made.

“Rebuilding may be the easiest part,” the former real estate magnate said, adding that “we know how to build better than anyone in the world.”

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi announced that he will award President Trump with his state’s highest civilian honor, the Order of the Nile, for strengthening US-Egypt relations and for his efforts to restore peace in the region.

“I am deeply honored to receive from you Egypt’s highest state honor, the Order of the Nile,” Trump responded. “The Nile is so beautiful, so magnificent.”

Two more coffins containing the remains of deceased Israeli hostages have been handed over to the Red Cross, the Israel Defense Forces announced. They will be transferred to Israeli military and security personnel in the Gaza Strip.

The military said early Monday that it expected to receive additional remains. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum had called for the peace plan between Israel and Hamas to be suspended until the remains of all the deceased were returned.

President Trump declared “peace in the Middle East” as he began a speech to a gathering of world leaders in Egypt to inaugurate his plan to end the war in Gaza.

“This is the day that people across the region and around the world have been working, toiling, hoping and praying,” Trump said. “They’ve done things over the last month that I think were really unthinkable. Nobody thought this could happen. With the historic agreement we just signed, those prayers of millions have finally been answered.”

The president said he has been seeing images of hostages reunited with their families backstage and said “the level of love is just incredible.”

“A new and beautiful day is emerging,” he said. “And now the rebuilding begins.”

The next phase of the Gaza peace plan brokered by President Trump advanced significantly on Monday when Hamas released the 20 Israeli hostages alive in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and detainees, while more aid began to flow into the Palestinian territory.

But the situation remains fragile and important questions about what comes next remain unanswered.

Later phases of the plan will have to address thornier issues such as the postwar governance of Gaza, Israel’s demand that Hamas disarm, which the group has rejected, and Palestinian demands for a state, which the current Israeli government has rejected.

Negotiations on those issues could fail, and Israel has hinted that it could resume military operations if its demands are not met.

Trump’s plan to end the war also stipulates that regional and international partners will work to develop the core of a new Palestinian security force.

Reconstruction will be another great challenge. The World Bank and a postwar plan proposed by Egypt estimate that at least $53 billion will be needed to rebuild the shattered Palestinian territory. Egypt plans to host a future conference on reconstruction.

Read more here.

—By: News/AP

The White House on Monday released a photo of President Trump meeting with hostage families in Israel.

“THEY ARE AT HOME,” the post says.

Sitting alongside the leaders of Turkey, Egypt and Qatar, President Trump and other Middle East leaders signed a document to inaugurate the US-brokered plan to end the war in Gaza.

“It took 3,000 years to get to this point. Can you believe it?” Mr. Trump said. “And it’s going to hold up too.”

The president and the leaders of Türkiye, Egypt and Qatar held up the pages of the declaration with their signatures.

President Trump took individual photos with world leaders next to a huge sign that reads “PEACE 2025,” before everyone gathered for a group photo.

When asked about Israel’s reputation abroad, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar told “News Mornings” co-host Tony Dokoupil on Monday that “we will have to work hard” to improve it. “But I would say it is a very challenging task due to the fact that there are those who do not want us to exist,” Sa’ar said. “And they have some political influence in the countries, they work against us and will continue to do so.”

The Foreign Minister also commented on Prime Minister Netanyahu’s decision not to attend Monday’s regional peace summit in Egypt. Netanyahu’s office thanked President Trump for inviting him to the summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, but said he could not attend due to the start of the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah.

Sa’ar acknowledged the importance of the summit and said that “it would be good” if Netanyahu could participate, “but he must – probably this is what he felt, and I completely understand and support him – he must also, as prime minister of the only Jewish state, respect the Jewish holiday and Jewish tradition.”

Two coffins of deceased Israeli hostages were transferred to Israel from the Red Cross, the Israeli military said Monday.

Two other coffins containing the remains of deceased hostages will later be flown to Israel later in the day, the IDF said.

“Hamas is required to comply with the agreement and make the necessary efforts to return all the deceased,” the Israeli military statement said, reiterating previous comments by Israeli officials.

Earlier Monday, the Hostage and Missing Families Forum, the group representing families of Israeli hostages, expressed anger that only four of the deceased hostages would be handed over on Monday and called for the suspension of the peace plan between Israel and Hamas “until all deceased individuals are returned.”

A journalist asked President Trump in Egypt on Monday when the second phase of peace deal negotiations would begin. The president said talks were already underway.

“Well, it has started. I mean, it has started as far as we are concerned,” Trump said in Sharm el-Sheik, sitting next to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. “The second phase has begun. And you know, the phases are a little mixed together.”

“In another room, there are the richest, some of the richest nations in the world,” he continued. “All the big leaders are here. The emirs and the kings and everyone, and it’s a very interesting group. I guess we have like 35 countries.”

The leaders, mostly from Arab and Muslim-majority nations, are there to talk about the way forward for Gaza and for peace. Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu previously thanked Trump for inviting him to attend, but said he was unable to attend due to a Jewish holiday.

Hamas is also not participating in the summit.

It wasn’t Algged either, no rescued from Hamas captivity In an Israeli military operation in June 2024, he met on Monday with his comrade Avinatan Or, who was among the 20 hostages still alive who were freed by Hamas on Monday.

Or and Argamani were kidnapped at the Nova music festival during the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023. The video of the two separated and kidnapped became one of the most infamous recorded moments of that day.

Argamani was carried away on the back of an all-terrain vehicle, shouting, “Don’t kill me,” with her arm extended toward Or, who was seen with her arms tied.

In photographs released Monday by the Israeli army, they are seen hugging in a hospital.

the parents of Hersh Goldberg-Polina 23-year-old Israeli-American who was taken hostage at the Nova music festival on October 7, 2023 and then killed by his Hamas captors in late August 2024, said the release of the last 20 living hostages made Monday a day of “tremendous relief, joy, gratitude and thanksgiving.”

“This is something the hostages’ families have been working on for 738 days,” Rachel Goldberg-Polin told News themezone. “It’s also bittersweet for families like ours.”

Goldberg-Polin and her husband, Jon Polin, were lead vocals in the effort to bring the hostages home over the past two years. Her son’s body, along with the remains of five others, was found by Israeli troops in a tunnel in Gaza.

“For families like ours, it is obviously a bittersweet day that Hersh is not coming home, but nationally and for all the people of this region, it is a huge sigh of relief and a day of joy: the hostages are coming home.”

M The full interview will be here.

Sitting next to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, President Trump said on Monday that the Egyptian leader had played an “instrumental” role in negotiations over the 20-point peace plan because of what he called Hamas’ “respect” for the country.

“They had a very important role with Hamas,” Trump said during his visit for a peace summit with regional leaders in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh. “In fact, the general – right here – was very decisive, because Hamas respects this country and they respect the leadership of Egypt.”

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Egypt will play a “very important” role in the future of the Middle East.

“Egypt has been a phenomenal participant,” Rubio said, predicting that Cairo would continue to play a key role in the ongoing implementation of the peace agreement.

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, the group representing families of Israeli hostages, called on Monday for the suspension of the peace deal between Israel and Hamas “until all deceased individuals are returned.”

Earlier Monday, the group said it was “shocked and dismayed to learn that Hamas would only return 4 bodies of deceased hostages on Monday.” Israeli officials have said there were 28 hostages killed in Gaza when they accepted the US-brokered peace plan, as well as 20 live hostages, who were returned to Israel on Monday.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said: “Hamas’ announcement of the expected return of four bodies today constitutes a violation of the agreement,” in a social media post.

“Any delay or deliberate evasion will be considered a serious violation of the agreement and will be responded to accordingly,” Katz said.

In a brief statement posted Monday on a Telegram channel linked to the group, Hamas said it would release the bodies of four deceased Israeli hostages, naming them as Guy Ilouz, Yossi Sharabi, Bevin Joshi and Daniel Peres.

Air Force One landed in Egypt on Monday afternoon, taking President Trump and his entourage (albeit delayed after their stop in Israel) to attend a Middle East peace summit in the resort of Sharm el-Sheikh.

Reporters on the plane said Air Force One was escorted by Egyptian Air Force planes as they entered Egyptian airspace.

The Israeli military said Monday afternoon that Red Cross personnel were heading to a meeting point in Gaza to take possession of the first remains of Israeli hostages killed as part of the peace deal.

“According to information received, the Red Cross is en route to the meeting point in the southern Gaza Strip, where several coffins of deceased hostages will be transferred into its custody,” the Israel Defense Forces said.

“The IDF is prepared to receive additional coffins of deceased hostages that are expected to be transferred to the Red Cross later,” the army added.

Palestinians freed by Israel under the terms of the peace agreement arrived in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip on Monday.

Live video showed the freed Palestinians disembarking from buses and being greeted by emotional relatives.

Crowds of thousands of people had gathered in Khan Younis to greet the detainees upon their arrival, mirroring scenes from earlier that day when dozens of other freed Palestinians were released in Ramallah and Beitunia in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

Israel is expected to release approximately 2,000 Palestinians from their prisons as part of the peace deal.

One of the 20 Israeli hostages who were reunited with his family on Monday was Bar Kupershtein. His father Tal spent the two years of his son’s captivity campaigning for the release of the hostages and also fighting his own battle after an incident during surgery left him severely disabled.

Tal had promised that one day he would greet his son again, and by his own means, and on Monday he kept that promise.

“Bar Kupershtein fought against terrorists on October 7 and then fought to survive in captivity. His father, Tal Kupershtein, knew he had to fight for his son. He overcame his disabilities, learning to speak again and even walk,” the Missing Families and Hostages Forum said in a social media post.

The group, which represents the families of the 251 hostages taken on October 7, 2023, shared a photo on Monday showing Bar and Tal embracing, both standing with other family members.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday praised the US-brokered peace deal between Israel and Hamas, saying it “brings more hope for peace in other regions where lives are still threatened.”

“This is truly an extraordinary event. President Trump’s leadership and determination have worked, and it is important that all the necessary help comes from countries and many people who have real influence,” Zelenskyy said in a social media post.

“We are working so that the day of peace arrives for Ukraine also. “Russian aggression remains the latest global source of destabilization, and if a ceasefire and peace has been achieved in the Middle East, the leadership and determination of global actors can certainly work for us too,” Zelenskyy said.

President Trump has recently said he is considering sending long-range American-made Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine if Russia does not soon agree to a negotiated ceasefire.

“This has truly been an honor. It is rare that a [non-Israeli] The president is invited to do this,” President Trump said as he concluded his speech to the Israeli parliament. “And I love Israel, I am with you every step of the way. You will be bigger, better, stronger and more loving than ever. Thank you so much. “God bless you, God bless the United States of America and God bless the Middle East.”

He received a standing ovation when he finished speaking, and members of the Knesset chanted “Trump, Trump.”

His speech lasted more than an hour, meaning he will arrive later than expected at a peace deal signing ceremony in Egypt.

Two Israeli lawmakers interrupted President Trump’s remarks in the Knesset on Monday, holding signs and booing before being expelled from parliament.

Both Arab-Israeli lawmaker Ayman Odeh and far-left politician Ofer Cassif said in social media posts that they had held signs reading “Recognize Palestine.”

“I was removed from the plenary session only because I raised the simplest demand, a demand that the entire international community agrees on: recognize a Palestinian state. Recognize this simple reality: there are two peoples here, and neither of them are going anywhere,” Odeh said in his social media post.

“This is the banner I waved in front of Trump in the Knesset,” Cassif said in his post, which included a photo of the sign.

“A truly just peace that saves both peoples of this land from agony can only be realized through the complete end of the occupation and the universal recognition of a Palestinian state alongside Israel,” Cassif said.

By Emmet Lyons and Tucker Reals

President Trump urged Israeli President Isaac Herzog to pardon Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in his speech to the Israeli Knesset on Monday, apparently referring to corruption allegations Netanyahu has been fighting for years.

“I have an idea. Mr. President, why don’t you grant him a pardon? Give him a pardon,” Trump said, turning to Israeli President Herzog and pointing to Netanyahu.

“By the way, that wasn’t in the speech, as you probably know. But I happen to like this gentleman here, and he seems to make a lot of sense,” Trump said, pointing again to Netanyahu.

Netanyahu was accused in 2019 on charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust, all of which he has repeatedly denied and dismissed for political reasons.

President Trump said it was time for Palestinians to “turn forever from the path of terror and violence.”

“The choice for the Palestinians could not be clearer,” Trump said. “This is your chance to turn away forever from the path of terror and violence that has been extreme, to exile the evil forces of hate that are in your mix, and I believe that is going to happen. I have met some people in recent months who want to see this happen. After tremendous pain, death and hardship, now is the time to focus on strengthening your people instead of trying to tear down Israel. We don’t want that to happen again.”

Trump said he intends to be a partner in the effort to maintain peace and develop Israel’s economy in collaboration with its neighbors.

President Trump jokingly told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in remarks before the Knesset on Monday to be “kinder” since “you’re no longer at war.”

“Only by seizing the opportunities of this moment can we achieve our goal of ensuring that the horrors of recent years never happen again. We do not want to “We don’t have to go through this again,” Trump said, addressing Israeli lawmakers.

President Trump reiterated his claim Monday, speaking before Israeli lawmakers, that he had resolved eight wars during his second term, brushing off critics who he said had predicted he would “drag” the United States into more wars.

“But when you solve eight wars in eight months, that means you don’t like war,” he said.

“Everyone thought he was going to be brutal. In fact, I remember Hillary Clinton during a debate said, ‘Look at him, look at him, he’s going to go to war with everyone.’ And, in fact, she said, ‘He has a personality that revolves around war.’ No, my personality is actually about stopping wars and it seems to work. It seems to work.”

President Trump met with some of the hostage Israeli families at the Knesset before delivering his speech to lawmakers on Monday, the Missing Families and Hostages Forum said.

The group representing families of Israeli hostages released two photos of Trump with relatives of Israelis held or killed by Hamas.

In one of the photos, Ruby Chen and Ronen Neutra, whose sons Itay Chen and Omer Maxim Neutra died in the October 7, 2023 attacks, are seen with the president. The bodies of Chen and Neutra are still being held in Gaza.

President Trump told Israeli lawmakers on Monday that the “cruelty” of the Hamas-led terrorist attacks on October 7, 2023 “struck at the core of humanity itself.”

“To all the families whose lives were forever changed by the atrocities of that day, and to all the people of Israel, know that America joins you in those two eternal vows: never to forget and never again,” Trump said.

A face-to-face meeting between top U.S. negotiators and Hamas’s political leadership last week sealed the peace deal, a U.S. official told News themezone on Monday.

At the meeting, U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff told Khalil al-Hayya, a senior Hamas official, that President Trump supported the 20-point plan, the U.S. official said, giving him assurances that he would not allow Israel to resume the war. Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law, also participated.

Axios first reported that last Wednesday’s meeting between President Trump’s envoys and Hamas leaders helped get the Gaza peace deal across the line.

By Margaret Brennan and Emmet Lyons

President Trump hailed a “historic dawn” in the Middle East in remarks to Israeli lawmakers in the Knesset on Monday.

“This is the historic dawn of a new Middle East,” Trump said.

“After so many years of incessant war and endless dangers, today the skies are calm, the guns are silent, the sirens are silent and the sun rises in a Holy Land that is finally at peace,” he said.

The group representing the families of Israeli hostages says it has been told that the remains of only four of the 28 deceased Israeli hostages will be returned from Gaza on Monday.

“The families of the hostages were shocked and dismayed to learn that only 4 bodies of deceased hostages will be returned today, out of the 28 held by Hamas,” the Missing Families and Hostages Forum said in a statement.

“This represents a flagrant violation of the agreement by Hamas. We hope that the Israeli government and the mediators will take immediate steps to rectify this grave injustice,” the group said. “The mediators must enforce the terms of the agreement and ensure that Hamas pays a price for this violation.”

As President Trump praised his special envoy Steve Witkoff for his negotiating skills, protesters interrupted the president’s speech in the Israeli Knesset. The individuals were quickly expelled.

“That was very efficient,” Trump said.

It is not clear what the protesters were saying or whether both were Israeli lawmakers.

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu said it had “been a long journey” to reach this day.

“At the beginning of the war, I promised to bring all the hostages home,” Netanyahu said. “Today, with the indispensable help, the determined and focused help, the relentless help of President Trump and his team, and with the incredible sacrifice and courage of Israel’s soldiers, we are fulfilling that promise.”

“Ladies and gentlemen, this is a momentous day, a day of great joy, as the remaining hostages return home,” he said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended his record during the past two years of war in the Gaza Strip as he addressed Israeli lawmakers alongside President Trump on Monday.

“In response to this barbaric attack on October 7, Israel did what it had to do. With indomitable courage, we set out to defend our people, defeat our enemies and free our hostages. Our heroic soldiers fought like lions,” Netanyahu said.

“Israel achieved astonishing victories over Hamas and the entire terrorist axis of Iran. Sinwar, Haniyeh, Nasrallah, Assad, they are all gone,” he said, referring to the slain leaders of Hamas and its ally, the Iran-backed Hezbollah group, as well as Syria’s former leader.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu took to the Knesset podium on Monday and delivered some remarks in English to thank President Trump for his support of Israel over the years.

“Donald Trump is the best friend the State of Israel has ever had in the White House,” Netanyahu said to applause.

Netanyahu praised what he called Trump’s “pivotal leadership” in brokering the Gaza peace deal.

“Mr. President, you are committed to this peace, I am committed to this peace and together, Mr. President, we will achieve this peace,” Netanyahu said.

Netanyahu remembered the hundreds of Israelis killed on October 7, the deadliest day in Israel’s history since the Holocaust. In response, “Israel did what it had to do,” he said.

The first Palestinians freed as part of the ceasefire and hostage release agreement between Hamas and Israel arrived in the Israeli-occupied West Bank on Monday.

Live video showed Palestinians disembarking from buses and being greeted by large crowds of cheering people in Ramallah, the de facto capital of the West Bank.

In total, Israel was to free about 2,000 Palestinians.

Israeli Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana praised President Trump as “the best friend the State of Israel has ever had,” while thanking Mr. Trump in Israel’s parliament on Monday.

“I’m going to take off this pin, this pin in memory of the hostages, because thanks to you they are home,” Ohana said, before removing a pin from her suit.

“Mr. President, you stand before the people of Israel not as another American president but as a giant of Jewish history,” Ohana said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will not travel to Egypt for the peace summit in the resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, where the peace deal between Israel and Hamas is expected to be signed later on Monday.

Netanyahu had been invited to the conference by President Trump, his office said Monday, and “the prime minister thanked President Trump for his invitation but said he would not be able to participate due to the proximity of the holiday.”

The holiday the prime minister’s office appears to be referring to is Simchat Torah, a Jewish holiday celebrating the Torah, which falls on October 14 and 15 this year.

President Trump was greeted with loud cheers and applause on Monday as he arrived at the Israeli Knesset to address assembled lawmakers.

Trump, seated at the podium alongside Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana and Israeli President Isaac Herzog, rose to applause for himself and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

President Trump is expected to address the Israeli Knesset, the country’s parliament, during his brief visit to mark the first phase of the peace deal between Israel and Hamas that his administration helped negotiate.

You will be able to see the president’s comment. ks live on News themezone 24/7 in the player at the top of this page. He is expected to start speaking very soon.

Trump’s comments to Israeli lawmakers will come shortly after the Israeli military confirmed the handover of the last 13 live hostages who had been held in Gaza. All living hostages have been freed and are back in Israel, according to the military.

The president is believed to have met privately with the families of the Israeli hostages before making the announcement. submit his comments to the Knesset. He will then depart for Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, where he will participate in a peace ceremony in the Middle East.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will travel to Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, to attend a Middle East peace summit alongside President Trump on Monday, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi’s office said in a statement.

“Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will participate in the peace summit to consolidate the ceasefire agreement in Gaza and reaffirm commitment to it,” says the statement posted on the Facebook page of the Egyptian presidency.

The president’s office also confirmed that Palestinian Authority President Mahmmoud Abbas would attend the conference, where the peace plan negotiated by President Trump is expected to be formally signed.

It was unclear whether Trump and Netanyahu would travel from Israel to the summit in the Egyptian resort together or separately.

By Ahmed Shawkat and Emmet Lyons

The last 13 Israelis who were kidnapped during the October 7, 2023, attack were returned to Israel after being freed by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, the Israeli military said on Monday.

and forces

President Trump signed the guest book at the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, ahead of a planned speech to assembled lawmakers on Monday.

The White House posted a photo on social media of Trump holding the guest book, showing his signature, flanked by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Amir Ohana, the speaker of the Knesset.

“This is my great honor: a great, beautiful day. A new beginning,” Trump wrote in the Knesset guest book.

The Israeli military confirmed on Monday that the last 13 live hostages in Gaza were with Israeli troops and “headed toward Israeli territory.”

The hostages had earlier been handed over to the Israel Defense Forces by Red Cross personnel, after being freed by Hamas in the southern Gaza town of Khan Younis.

The remains of some of the 48 deceased Israeli hostages still in Gaza are expected to be transferred to Israeli officials later on Monday.

President Trump’s top envoy, Steve Witkoff, said Monday that he had “wondered if he would ever see this day,” calling it “deeply gratifying to know that so many families will finally have their loved ones home.”

“Today, twenty families are freed from the unbearable pain of not knowing if they will ever see their loved ones again. But even in this moment of relief and happiness, my heart aches for those whose loved ones will not return alive,” Witkoff said in a social media post. “Bringing their bodies home is an obligation and an act of dignity and honors their memory forever.”

Witkoff added that he was “deeply grateful for President Trump’s indomitable spirit. This day would not have been possible without him.”

The Israeli army on Monday released a series of photographs showing some of the first seven hostages freed by Hamas speaking with members of the army and reunited with their families on Israeli territory.

One of the first photos showed former hostage Eitan Mor smiling while hugging his parents. Mor was among the Israelis kidnapped at the Nova music festival in southern Israel during the terrorist attack on October 7, 2023. He was working security at the festival.

Other photographs showed Mor speaking with Israeli forces before reuniting with his family.

Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi decided to award the “Order of the Nile” to President Trump, “in recognition of his notable contributions to supporting peace efforts, defusing conflicts and, most recently, his critical role in stopping the war in Gaza,” El-Sisi’s office said in a statement on Monday.

Trump was due to arrive in Cairo later in the day, after addressing Israeli lawmakers and meeting with the families of Israeli hostages.

The Order of the Nile is Egypt’s highest state honor. It was first established in 1915 and is currently awarded in two forms: a Necklace, which is awarded to heads of state and will be presented to President Trump, and the Grand Cordon, which is for other recipients.

By Ahmed Shawkat and Tucker Reals

President Trump has arrived in Israel. He was greeted by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the tarmac at Ben Gurion International Airport before walking down a long red carpet to greet others, including his daughter Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner, and Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff, who, along with Kushner, helped negotiate the peace deal.

The Israeli military said Red Cross vehicles were heading Monday to a second meeting point, this one in southern Gaza, “where several hostages will be handed over to the Red Cross.”

The first group of seven Israeli hostages were handed over to the Red Cross in northern Gaza before being transferred to Israeli military personnel and then driven back to Israeli territory.

People in Tel Aviv’s Hostage Square cheered Monday as a huge television screen showed the landing of Air Force One in the country.

Someone shouted over the plaza’s loudspeaker: “Thank you, President Trump!”

President Trump, who is expected to arrive in Israel momentarily, stated decisively on Sunday that the war in Gaza is over.

“The war is over,” he told reporters aboard Air Force One en route to Tel Aviv. “The war is over, okay? Do you understand?”

Asked if he thinks the ceasefire will hold, he said: “I think so. I think it will hold.”

“I think people have a lot of reasons why this is going to stay, but I think people are tired of it,” Trump said.

Trump said that “as the years go by” Gaza will look “very good,” but did not provide further details.

The Israel Defense Forces confirmed in a social media post that the first seven hostages released by Hamas “have now crossed the border into Israeli territory with IDF and Shin Bet forces.”

They were headed to an “initial reception point in southern Israel, where they will be reunited with their families,” the military said in a statement.

President Trump boarded Air Force One Sunday afternoon to head to the Middle East.

In a brief comment to reporters at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, the president said, “So this is going to be a very special moment.”

“In Israel and also in Muslim and Arab countries, everyone is applauding,” Trump said. He didn’t accept any questions.

He is scheduled to arrive in Tel Aviv early Monday along with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Central Intelligence Agency Director John Ratcliffe and other administration officials.

Trump is expected to meet with the families of Israeli hostages before giving a speech to the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, in Jerusalem. He will then travel to Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, for the international peace summit.

– Kathryn Watson, Kiki Atrars

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed in a statement Monday the identities of the first seven live hostages freed by Hamas under the peace plan negotiated by President Trump.

The statement said the families of Ohel Alon, Angrest Matan, Berman Gali, Berman Ziv, Gilboa-Dalal Guy, Mor Eitan and Miran Omri “have been informed by the authorized authorities that they have joined our forces in the Gaza Strip and will soon head to Israeli territory.”

The Israeli military has confirmed that the first group of seven live hostages have been transferred from the Red Cross to Israeli personnel inside Gaza, and are “now heading to Israeli territory.”

The seven had to undergo immediate medical checks upon arriving at Israeli territory, the Israel Defense Forces said in a social media post.

“IDF commanders and soldiers greet and hug returning hostages as they return home to the State of Israel,” the IDF said.

“According to information now received from the Red Cross, seven abductees have been transferred to them and are heading to IDF and Shin Bet forces in the Gaza Strip,” the Israel Defense Forces said in a social media post on Monday, indicating that the first step for the initial group of hostages to be transferred out of Hamas custody had been completed.

“The IDF is prepared to absorb additional abductees who will be transferred to the Red Cross later,” the IDF said.

Israel’s military said Monday morning that Red Cross vehicles were heading to a meeting point in northern Gaza to meet with “several hostages” being handed over by Hamas.

The Israel Defense Forces said in a social media post that it was “prepared to absorb additional hostages who will be transferred to the Red Cross later.”

The remaining hostages (20 of a total of 48 of whom are believed to be alive) are expected to be handed over in at least two separate groups.

Dozens, if not hundreds, of Israelis gathered in Tel Aviv’s Hostage Square ahead of the expected return of the remaining hostages on Monday morning.

Waving Israeli flags and chanting, the crowd gathered before dawn and continued to grow throughout the morning. As the sun rose, many sang together and waved Israeli flags.

The release of the hostages still being held in Gaza is expected to begin around 8 a.m. local time, 1 a.m. ET, according to a source familiar with the matter. A second round of hostages will then be released around 10 a.m. local time, 3 a.m. ET, the source said.

The two groups of hostages are being released from different locations within Gaza, the source said.

Israel’s Sheba Medical Center, which is located in Ramat Gan outside Tel Aviv and is expected to receive the hostages after their release, said they may not arrive there until mid-to-late morning at the earliest.

—Michal Ben-Gal, Jordan Freiman

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said Sunday that Egypt is “confident that the first phase of Trump’s peace plan will be implemented” and will be respected by all parties involved.

“We are very hopeful that the first phase will be completed, in all honesty, by both sides, and we are in full contact with the Palestinians, with Hamas,” Abdelatty said on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan.”

Abdelatty confirmed that Egypt will send troops to Gaza “within specific parameters.” He also said that Egypt supports the deployment of international troops to Gaza for security and stabilization purposes.

“We are sure, although we have to learn lessons from the past, that without resolving the Palestinian cause, which is the core of the conflict in the region, without respecting the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinians to have their own state, there will be no peace and stability in the region,” Abdelatty said.

Abdelatty indicated that President Trump’s peace plan referred to Palestinian statehood, although the final version of the plan is not clear about Palestinian statehood.

Watch Margaret Brennan’s full interview with Abdelatty here.

Alana Zeitchik, a relative of Israeli hostage David Cunio, said she is “nervous” about the conditions he will find himself in when he is released from captivity.

Cunio’s wife, Sharon Aloni Cunio, and their twin daughters were held captive by Hamas and released in November 2023.

Zeitchik said Cunio’s wife received guidance on how to tell their daughters that their father was coming home and that they were “in shock” after hearing the news.

Zeitchik told The News: “We won’t really be able to exhale and breathe a sigh of relief until he returns to Israeli soil.”

Tens of thousands of Palestinians began their journey back to the heavily destroyed northern Gaza Strip over the weekend after the ceasefire agreement came into force.

A steady stream of people, many of them on foot, crowded a coastal road in the central Gaza Strip, heading north to see what was left of their homes. It was a repeat of emotional scenes from a previous ceasefire in January.

Palestinians expressed relief that the war can end, although it is tempered by worries about the future and lingering grief over the staggering death and destruction.

“There wasn’t much joy, but the ceasefire eased some of the pain of death and bloodshed, and the pain of our loved ones and brothers who suffered in the war,” Jamal Mesbah, displaced from the north, told the AP.

The destruction they will encounter this time will be even greater, after Israel launched a new offensive on Gaza City in the north in recent weeks.

—News/AP