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US President Donald Trump received an unprecedented standing ovation from Israeli lawmakers at the Knesset on Monday, moments before delivering a historic address marking what he called the “dawn of a new Middle East.” The applause came as Hamas released the final 20 surviving Israeli hostages under a US-brokered Gaza ceasefire deal, ending two years of brutal conflict.

Trump Hailed As Peacemaker Amid Hostage Release

Trump, accompanied by daughter Ivanka Trump, son-in-law Jared Kushner, and envoy Steve Witkoff, landed in Tel Aviv to a red-carpet welcome. His visit, the first since the Gaza peace accord was signed in Sharm el-Sheikh, came at a moment of rare calm in the war-torn region.

“The skies are calm, the guns are silent, the sirens are still, and the sun rises on a Holy Land that is finally at peace,” Trump said, addressing Israel’s parliament amid loud cheers and chants of “World needs more Trumps.” The Israeli military confirmed that all remaining hostages alive in Gaza had been returned home through the Red Cross. Crowds gathered at Tel Aviv’s “Hostage Square,” embracing, weeping, and waving flags as news of the handover spread.

Scenes Of Joy And Relief

Emotional scenes played out across Israel. Families reunited after 737 days of uncertainty, while soldiers saluted returning captives. One freed hostage, Guy Gilboa-Dalal, wrote on a whiteboard from his evacuation helicopter, “I have returned, the people of Israel live.”

Viki Cohen, mother of freed captive Nimrod Cohen, said she had not slept for days. “I am so excited. It’s hard to imagine how I feel right now,” she said, her voice breaking. In Gaza, meanwhile, dozens of Palestinians gathered to welcome home detainees freed under the same accord. Many expressed cautious optimism, hoping the prisoner exchange could be the first step toward lasting peace.

Challenges Remain On The Road To Peace

Following his Knesset address, Trump is set to travel to Egypt for a high-level summit at Sharm el-Sheikh. More than 20 world leaders are expected to attend discussions on the next phase of the ceasefire and Gaza’s reconstruction. The deal, mediated by the US alongside Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, forms the foundation of Trump’s proposed “20-point peace plan.” The initiative envisions an international “Board of Peace,” chaired by Trump, to oversee Gaza’s recovery and ensure disarmament by militant factions.

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Despite the euphoria, major challenges lie ahead. Questions persist over Gaza’s future governance and Hamas’s continued presence in the enclave. Israeli officials remain wary, citing security concerns and the group’s long-standing control since 2007. According to Gaza’s health authorities, over 67,000 Palestinians were killed during the two-year war, which also left nearly all of Gaza’s 2.2 million residents homeless. Much of the enclave remains in ruins.

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Trump is the fourth US president to address the Knesset, following Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush. His speech, both defiant and conciliatory, drew extended applause as he declared, “Israel has won all that can be won by the force of arms. Now comes the victory of peace.”

With inputs from agency.