Jerusalem, 13 October 2025 — U.S. President Donald Trump traveled to Israel on Monday, where he met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and addressed the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, in a historic session coinciding with the release of all 20 surviving hostages held by Hamas. The transfer, facilitated by the International Committee of the Red Cross, represents the first major milestone of the U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement aimed at ending more than two years of war in Gaza.
Hostage Release Marks Turning Point
- The 20 hostages, abducted during Hamas’s October 2023 assault, were freed in two groups and handed to Israeli forces after medical checks in Gaza.
- Their release fulfills the first phase of the ceasefire deal, which also requires Israel to free nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, including 250 serving life sentences.
- Israel confirmed that while all living hostages are now home, negotiations continue over the return of the remains of at least 28 captives who died in Gaza.
Trump’s Visit and Address
Trump became only the fourth U.S. president to address the Knesset, following Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush. He hailed the hostage release as an “incredible triumph for peace”, declaring the Gaza war effectively over.
Netanyahu, in his remarks, described Trump as “the greatest friend Israel has ever had in the White House”, crediting him with securing the breakthrough. Trump is scheduled to travel next to Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, for a summit with regional and global leaders to formalize the ceasefire framework.
Ceasefire Framework
The agreement, mediated by the U.S., Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, outlines:
- Release of all hostages (living and deceased).
- Phased Israeli troop withdrawals from Gaza.
- Deployment of an international monitoring mission to oversee compliance.
- Humanitarian aid surge into Gaza, where famine conditions persist.
While Hamas has agreed to a long-term truce, it has rejected calls for full disarmament, leaving questions over the next phase of negotiations.
Outlook
The release of the hostages and Trump’s high-profile visit have injected momentum into the fragile peace process. Yet analysts caution that deep political divisions, unresolved issues of governance in Gaza, and the question of Hamas’s future role could still derail progress.
For now, the images of freed hostages reuniting with families and Trump’s symbolic address in Jerusalem mark a rare moment of optimism in a conflict long defined by stalemate and suffering.
President Donald J. Trump signs the guest book at the Knesset Picture by The White House Media Team
Sources: SBS News; NBC News; Telegraph; CBS News; Hindustan Times; Independent.
