Tel Aviv [Israel] — U.S. President Donald Trump landed in Israel on Monday to mark the U.S.-brokered ceasefire and hostage exchange deal between Israel and Hamas — an agreement that he said had “ended the war” and paved the way for lasting peace in the Middle East.
As Trump stepped off Air Force One, a convoy carrying the first group of hostages freed by Hamas arrived in Israel under the terms of the new peace deal. He was welcomed by Israeli President Isaac Herzog and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Ben Gurion Airport, where a military band played and a crowd in Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square cheered his arrival.
The ceasefire deal, brokered after two years of conflict, marks the beginning of a new chapter for both Israelis and Palestinians. The first phase of the agreement includes the release of the final 48 Israeli hostages, the freeing of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, a significant increase in humanitarian aid to Gaza, and a limited withdrawal of Israeli forces from major urban centers in the territory.
“The war is over, OK? People are tired of it,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One before landing in Israel. He expressed confidence that the ceasefire would hold, citing fatigue on both sides and his administration’s success in weakening Iranian-backed militant groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah.
Trump also highlighted growing cooperation between Arab and Muslim-majority nations, saying that several regional powers were now committed to addressing the broader Israeli-Palestinian conflict and strengthening ties with Washington.
During his visit, Trump is scheduled to meet with the families of released hostages and deliver an address before the Knesset — an honor last granted to U.S. President George W. Bush in 2008. Later, he will travel to Egypt for a summit in Sharm el-Sheikh alongside Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi and leaders from over 20 countries to discuss Gaza’s reconstruction and regional stability.
Both Israel and Egypt have announced that Trump will be awarded their nations’ highest civilian honors in recognition of his diplomatic efforts.
Despite the celebrations, uncertainty persists over Gaza’s postwar governance and the disarmament of Hamas. Israel has warned that it could resume military operations if Hamas fails to comply with the disarmament terms.
Large portions of Gaza remain devastated, and its population of nearly two million faces dire humanitarian conditions. Under the new deal, Israel has reopened five border crossings to allow food, medicine, and essential aid into the region. Around 200 U.S. troops will also participate in monitoring and supporting the ceasefire as part of an international coalition that includes partner nations and humanitarian groups.
Trump, who once envisioned Gaza becoming the “Riviera of the Middle East,” acknowledged the immense destruction but expressed hope for its future. “It’s like a demolition site right now,” he said, “but I’d like to see it rebuilt. I’d like to put my feet on it, at least.”
