Ovations in Israel’s Parliament greeted Donald Trump as he hailed peace between Israel and Palestine, marking the start of Washington’s ambitious peace plan.
“This is the end of a war, the end of an era of terror, and the beginning of one of faith and hope,” declared U.S. President Donald Trump before the Israeli Knesset, greeted with a standing ovation on the eve of the Gaza ceasefire and the release of twenty hostages.
Trump called the agreement “an incredible triumph for Israel and the world” and urged the nation to look toward “a golden era.” Addressing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, he said: “You will be remembered for signing peace, not for continuing the killing.”
Amid applause, two lawmakers, Ayman Odeh and Ofer Cassif, shouted protests and were expelled. Both left-wing Israeli politicians accused the peace plan of “legitimizing occupation.”
Opposition leader Yair Lapid praised Trump as “the architect of a historic change,” suggesting he deserves a Nobel Peace Prize.
Trump asserted that “the long and painful nightmare is over” for both Israelis and Palestinians. He called this moment “the historic dawn of a new Middle East.”
The plan —Washington’s 21-point peace initiative— envisions a full ceasefire in Gaza, the liberation of all hostages, and the creation of a neutral transitional government under an international Peace Commission chaired by Trump and former U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Under the agreement, Israel will refrain from annexing Gaza or the West Bank, while Hamas must surrender, disarm, and receive amnesty. The plan includes the destruction of militant tunnels and the deployment of international forces to secure both sides.
“As the dust settles and the smoke clears, a brighter future dawns,” Trump proclaimed. “The forces of terror and chaos that plagued this region for decades are now weakened, isolated, and defeated.”
He praised his son-in-law Jared Kushner, calling him “the true architect” of the plan and lauding his role in the Abraham Accords that normalized ties between Israel and Saudi Arabia. “I didn’t know my daughter Ivanka would convert to Judaism,” Trump joked. “But it turned out to be a blessing.”
Kushner’s close ties with Saudi Arabia —which invested $2 billion in his firm, Affinity Partners— have sparked debate about possible conflicts of interest.
Yet, many moderate Jewish leaders argue the peace plan is a chance to end decades of bloodshed, even if it offers amnesty to repentant Hamas fighters. Trump closed his address with an appeal for unity and optimism: “Peace in the Middle East is closer than ever. For Israel, Palestine, and all nations of the region, this is the dawn of something truly new.”
