US President Donald Trump arrived Monday morning at Ben Gurion Airport for a short visit to Israel, the first stop on a Middle East tour described as a mission for peace. Welcomed by President Isaac Herzog and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump is set to continue to Egypt, where an international summit in Sharm el-Sheikh will focus on implementing the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip.
Even before his arrival, which coincided with the start of the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas since the beginning of the war, a viral photo showed Netanyahu, his wife, Jared Kushner, and US envoy Steve Witkoff waiting at the airport for the American president. From aboard Air Force One, Trump reportedly watched the scene and remarked, “we’re making history.”
In an interview with Axios during the flight, Trump described the peace deal as “a turning point in his political career,” calling it “the greatest achievement” he has ever been part of. Confirming the end of the war in Gaza, he praised Qatar’s role in the negotiations and declared that “the war is over. You understand? This is the first time everyone is united.”
Before landing in Tel Aviv, Trump said that decisive verbal assurances had been given by all parties, ensuring that two million people would be able to return to their homes in Gaza. He also affirmed that his relationship with Netanyahu was excellent, describing the Israeli prime minister as “the right person in the right place.”
According to details released by the White House, the Trump plan, which is outlined in twenty points, calls for a gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, to be replaced by a multinational force coordinated from a command center overseen by the United States and Israel. Trump expressed confidence in the agreement’s success and promised the rapid formation of an international stabilization force.
The US president further noted that the accord would not have been possible without the military operation against Iran’s nuclear facilities last June. He argued that Tehran’s weakened position made Hamas “more willing to compromise” and helped unite Arab and Islamic countries around a shared goal of peace. Trump also said he hoped to visit Gaza personally, “to set foot there” as a symbol of the new era of peace he envisions for the Middle East.
For his part, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed the return of Israeli hostages as a “historic event” and a “tremendous victory.” By Monday morning, 20 (living) of the 48 hostages had been freed and handed over to Israeli authorities. “Everywhere we have fought, we have won. But the fight is not over,” Netanyahu cautioned, citing persistent security challenges and warning against Israel’s enemies “who will try to strike again.”
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