Trump arrives in Israel as hostage release begins

U.S. President Donald Trump arrived in Israel on Monday to a red-carpet welcome from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog, marking a pivotal moment in the Middle East peace effort as the first group of Israeli hostages was released from Gaza under a U.S.-brokered ceasefire.

Air Force One touched down at Ben Gurion Airport shortly after sunrise. Trump descended the steps to applause, handshakes, and a full military honor guard — a scene his aides described as “a victory lap” for the president following weeks of intense negotiations that secured the ceasefire and the initial hostage releases.

Speaking to reporters on the tarmac, Trump declared, “The war is over. People are tired of fighting — this is the moment to rebuild, to heal, and to start fresh.”

His visit comes as seven Israeli hostages were freed early Monday morning and transferred into Israeli custody through the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Israeli officials confirmed that additional hostages are expected to be released in the coming hours as part of the first phase of the ceasefire agreement.

The deal, mediated by the United States and Egypt, also includes provisions for humanitarian access to Gaza and the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces. The truce is being viewed internationally as the most significant diplomatic breakthrough since the conflict began two years ago.

While Israeli leaders hailed Trump’s role in securing the agreement, officials in Jerusalem remain cautious. “This is an important step, but it must be followed by total disarmament of Hamas and full security guarantees for Israel,” Netanyahu said during the welcoming ceremony.

In Gaza, celebrations mixed with uncertainty as residents emerged from shelters for the first time in weeks. Palestinian officials described the ceasefire as “a window of hope,” though warned that without sustained international oversight, the deal could quickly unravel.

Analysts say Trump’s visit signals a bid to cement his foreign-policy legacy in the Middle East, where he has repeatedly positioned himself as a peacemaker capable of delivering what his predecessors could not.

Meetings with Hostage Families and Knesset Address

During his 24-hour stay, Trump will meet families of released hostages and deliver an address to the Knesset — a rare honor for a U.S. president. He is also expected to hold private talks with Netanyahu and Herzog on the next phase of reconstruction and security coordination in Gaza.

Later this week, Trump will travel to Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, to co-chair a regional peace summit alongside Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. The summit will include representatives from more than 20 nations and focus on post-war rebuilding, governance in Gaza, and broader Arab-Israeli normalization.

Despite the optimistic tone in Jerusalem, experts warn that the ceasefire remains fragile. Israel’s military has yet to confirm a full withdrawal from northern Gaza, and key issues — including Hamas’s future role, border control, and the status of thousands of displaced civilians — remain unresolved.