On the day when Hamas released 20 Israeli hostages — part of U.S. President Donald Trump’s 20-point peace plan — the American leader was in Israel.
During his speech at the Israeli Parliament in Jerusalem, where he was welcomed with applause, President Donald Trump declared that everyone was witnessing the dawn of a historic new Middle East. He thanked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for his cooperation, as well as the Arab countries that helped facilitate the negotiations.
‘Thank you, everyone. It’s a great honor. We are gathered here on this great day. After two years of darkness, 20 hostages are returning to their families. Another 28 will return to rest in their homeland. Today, the weapons have fallen silent, and the sun has found the Holy Land in peace. This is not the end of war, but it is the end of terror. I thank Prime Minister Netanyahu — a brave man, without whom peace would not have been possible. He’s not the easiest person to talk to, but that’s what makes him so great. Thank you, Bibi — you’ve done an incredible job. Thanks also to all the Arab nations that took part in securing the hostages’ release. Generations will remember this moment as the one when everything changed — and changed for the better. Many told us we were wasting our time, but that wasn’t the case. And a special thanks to Steve Witkoff. I personally chose him — he had never done anything like this before. He was a great businessman, a negotiator, but above all, a great human being. Everyone respects him,’ said Trump.
