Donald Trump hails ‘historic dawn of a new Middle East’ in address to the Israeli parliament

“Generations from now, this will be remembered as the moment that everything began to change.”

Donald Trump has hailed the “historic dawn of a new Middle East” in an address to the Israeli parliament to mark the ceasefire deal in Gaza.

Just hours after the first Israeli hostages were released by Hamas, the US President stood to a long standing ovation at the Knesset and celebrated “an incredible triumph for Israel and the world to have all of these nations working together as partners in peace.”

“After so many years of unceasing war and endless danger, today, the skies are calm, the guns are silent, sirens are still, and the sun rises on a holy land that is finally at peace,” he said.

Mr Trump told Israel that it had won all it could by military force.

“Now, it is time to translate these victories against terrorists on the battlefield into the ultimate prize of peace and prosperity for the entire Middle East,” he said.

“Together, we have shown that peace is not just a hope we can dream about, it is a reality we can build upon. Like the USA right now, it will be the golden age of Israel and the golden age of the Middle East.

“It is more obvious than ever that the productive and responsible nations of this region should not be enemies or adversaries, you should be partners, and eventually even friends.”

Mr Trump said the focus in Gaza should be the restoration of “the fundamentals of stability, safety, dignity, and economic development, so they can finally have the better life their children deserve.”

The speech was at one point interrupted by two people, believed to be members of the Israeli parliament, who were then ejected.

Mr Trump remarked “that was very efficient” before continuing.

Mr Trump was only the fourth president to address the Knesset, the first since George W Bush’s speech in 2008. Prior to his address, he signed a guest book at the Knesset, writing: “This is my great honour, a great and beautiful day. A new beginning”.

In a welcoming address, the speaker of the Knesset, Amir Ohana, announced Israel “would urge leaders worldwide to submit your candidacy for the Nobel Peace Prize next year” and described Mr Trump as a “giant of Jewish history.”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu then said Mr Trump was “the greatest friend that the State of Israel has ever had in the White House.”

“We thank you for your pivotal leadership in putting forward a proposal that brings all our hostages home . . . that ends the war by achieving all our objectives . . . which opens the door to the historic expansion of peace in our region, and beyond our region,” he said.

“I’m committed to this peace.”

Mr Netanyahu said it was a day of great joy for Israel as the remaining hostages came home.

“We have paid a high price for this war but our enemies now understand how powerful and just how determined Israel is,” he said.

“And this, Mr President, is the indispensable foundation of peace. Peace through strength.”

Mr Netanyahu revealed he wanted to bestow the Israel Prize, the country’s highest award, on Mr Trump.

Twelve hours earlier, Mr Trump declared “the war is over” as he boarded Air Force One in Washington. Upon arrival in Israel he pumped his fist in the air as he disembarked onto a red carpet at Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport, just as the first convoy of vehicles carrying hostages released by Hamas crossed into Israel.

Mr Trump was greeted by Israeli President Isaac Herzog and Mr Netanyahu before travelling to meet with hostages’ families ahead of his address.

After his address Mr Trump was due to travel to Egypt, where he and President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi will co-host a crucial Middle East peace summit of more than 20 world leaders including British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carnomey.

The summit at Sharm el Sheikh will aim to progress Mr Trump’s 20 point plan to end the devastating two-year conflict in Gaza.

Crucially, Mr Trump will be looking to resolve the questions that remain about the next phase of the plan — including a requirement for Hamas to disarm and the withdrawal of Israel from Gaza.

Mr Trump said he had received guarantees from both sides and other key regional players about the initial phase of the deal, and the future stages. He told reporters on Monday the ceasefire “is going to hold”.

“We have a lot of verbal guarantees, and I don’t think they’re going to want to disappoint me,” Mr Trump said.

The first phase of the ceasefire plan involved the release of the final hostages held by Hamas, a surge of aid into Gaza, the partial withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza’s main cities and the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners by Israel.

The next phase calls for a the establishment of a temporary Palestinian governing body, to be supervised by a Board of Peace headed by Mr Trump.

It also calls for the disarmament of Hamas and for Gaza to be redeveloped, with the long-term goal that “conditions may finally be in place for a credible pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood”.

Talking to reporters on board Air Force One en route to Israel, Mr Trump was circumspect about his plan to develop a “Riviera of the Middle East” on Gaza.

“I don’t know about the Riviera for a while,” Trump said. “It’s blasted. This is like a demolition site.”

But he said he would like to visit Gaza one day.

“I would be proud to,” Mr Trump said. “I’d like to put my feet on it at least.”

More than 67,000 Palestinians were killed during the conflict and most of Gaza’s roughly two million residents are displaced and living in desperate conditions.