TEL AVIV — U.S. President Donald Trump arrived in Israel on Monday morning to celebrate the U.S.-brokered ceasefire deal between Hamas and Israel as the first group of hostages were released.
Trump was greeted by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as well as President Isaac Herzog while a military band played. In Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, the crowd cheered for Trump and chanted “Thank you, Trump”.
The first phase of the ceasefire agreement calls for the release of the final 48 hostages held by Hamas; the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel; humanitarian aid to Gaza; and a pullback by Israeli forces from Gaza’s main cities.
“The war is over, OK?” Trump told reporters traveling with him on Air Force One.
“Everybody is happy, whether it’s Jews or Muslims or the Arab countries, every country is dancing in the streets,” he said. “It’s a point in time I don’t think you’ll ever see it again. They’ve never seen it in 3,000 years.”
Israel rolled out the red carpet — literally — for Trump, who greeted Israeli officials before getting into his motorcade with Netanyahu.
Trump is expected to meet the families of hostages with Netanyahu at the Knesset before addressing the Israeli parliament and leaving early in the afternoon to travel to Egypt.
While in Egypt, Trump will co-host a peace summit of more than 20 world leaders with his Egyptian counterpart, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, in Sharm el-Sheikh.
The news comes as the Israel Defense Force announced on Monday that seven hostages held in Gaza by Hamas have been released into the custody of the Red Cross and are now on their way to Israel.
“After 738 days in captivity, the IAF is ready to meet our hostages and bring them back home,” the Israeli Air Force said.
Over 67,000 people have lost their lives in Israel’s ongoing conflict with Gaza. The devastating attack on Israel on October 7 resulted in the loss of over 1,200 lives and the abduction of 250 individuals. After 737 days, the hostages are finally being returned to their families.
