President Donald Trump addressed the Knesset on Monday morning, declaring the end of the war in Gaza and „the end of the age of terror and death.“
Good news out of the Middle East: It looks like this ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas may actually be holding.
So far, busloads of nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners have started being unloaded in Ramallah, in the West Bank, satisfying the terms of the deal that has led Hamas to free all 20 remaining living hostages taken during the terrorist attack on October 7, 2023. Hamas is still looking for the dead hostages, and it’s unclear what exactly will happen if they can’t fully satisfy the terms of the deal, which involves returning the remains of all those whom they’ve killed.
President Donald Trump addressed Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, on Monday morning. This marks „not only the end of a war“ but also „the end of the age of terror and death“, the president said. He talked about the importance of stabilizing the Middle East, talked up how he believes Iran is ready to make a deal and come to the negotiating table, as well as his own withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal. At times, he veered off track, in characteristic Trump fashion (characterizing his special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, as „Henry Kissinger who doesn’t leak“ and talking about the false promises made by Presidents Joe Biden and Barack Obama). „He’s not the easiest guy to deal with“, Trump said of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at one point, „but that’s what makes him great.“ (He also amusingly told Isaac Herzog, Israel’s president, to pardon Netanyahu for his bribery charges. Truly the king of digressions.)
„The state of Israel is strong and it will live and thrive forever“, Trump said.
