President Donald Trump visited Israel and Egypt on Monday to secure guarantees that the two-year Gaza War is over.
The newly agreed-upon cease-fire deal culminated in the release of all 20 living Israeli hostages held by Hamas terrorists. Approximately 1,900 Palestinian detainees and prisoners were released in exchange.
Families rejoiced at seeing their loved ones for the first time in 738 days after they were taken during the Oct. 7, 2023, terror attacks.
“For two years we waited for this moment—the moment our little family would be whole again,” said Rivka Bohbot. She is the wife of abducted Elkana Bohbot and was commenting in an X post from the hostage advocacy group Bring Them Home Now, after her family of three, including their 5-year-old son, was back together.
“Thank you to everyone who supported us, fought for us, embraced us, and helped.”
Worldwide, support for the agreement is widespread. Headlines in Jerusalem and other major cities read “God Bless the Peacemaker,” referring to Trump.
Related Story
Trump had long vowed to reunite the hostages with their families, calling for their release repeatedly since taking office for a second time in January. He celebrated their freedom, joining families who thanked him for making the day possible.
“After two harrowing years in darkness and captivity, 20 courageous hostages are returning to the glorious embrace of their families, and it is glorious,” Trump said during a historic address to the Israeli Knesset on Monday.
The president was greeted with raucous applause as he told the audience the agreement marked the “dawn of a new Middle East.”
“It’s the start of a grand concord and lasting harmony for Israel and all the nations of what will soon be a truly magnificent region,” he said, looking forward to a future redefined from the approximately 3,000 years of turmoil in the Middle East.
Israel and the United States are achieving success in the region by utilizing peace through strength policies, Trump said, emphasizing the impact of Operation Midnight Hammer when Iran’s military nuclear facilities were targeted.
Trump’s efforts are a continuation of the Abraham Accords, a peace initiative launched in his first term to bring Muslim nations into negotiations with Israel.
Countries that set aside differences are now experiencing economic success and serve as a role model to others in the region, according to the president.
Heads of state representing 35 nations came together in Sharm El-Sheik, Egypt on Monday to sign a peace deal establishing a plan for sustainable peace in the Middle East.
“Together we’ve achieved what everybody said was impossible,” Trump said. “Together we have peace in the Middle East.”
Among others, the leaders of France, Italy, Germany, Jordan, Turkey, and the United Kingdom were in attendance, as were United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, host of the peace summit, honored Trump with a special ceremony, presenting him with the Order of the Nile—Egypt’s highest honor—for his role in securing the agreement.
A newly established “Board of Peace” will monitor peacekeeping operations. Trump said a random lottery drawing will determine which countries are represented on the board.
Phase two of the operation is already underway and will include debris removal and cleanup efforts across Gaza. Details are limited, and elements of some phases “are all a little bit mixed in with each other,” Trump said. The recovery of 24 bodies, individuals taken hostage on Oct. 7, 2023, is a priority.
Trump’s whirlwind schedule began at the White House on Sunday. He landed in Tel Aviv on Monday, delivered a speech, then flew to Egypt for the Gaza Peace Summit the same day, before rushing back to Washington—approximately 12,500 miles of round-trip, with no overnight stays.
—Travis Gillmore
BOOKMARKS
The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) uses a complex network of hackers to exploit digital security weaknesses on the World Wide Web. Check out Peter Svab’s latest report, complete with a nifty infographic, to learn more.
Argentine President Javier Milei is set to meet with Donald Trump at the White House on Tuesday. The get-together comes after Trump approved a $20 billion plan to stabilize Argentina’s currency.
French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu resigned after less than a month in office, but he’s back on the job after being reappointed by French President Emanuel Macron last week. Now, Lecornu will have to appoint a cabinet that will help him stabilize the country’s economy.
The market is booming, with gold and stock prices reaching record highs. Find out if you can finally buy that second yacht by reading Andrew Moran’s latest report.
The Russia-Ukraine conflict rages on, and Putin’s forces claim they have breached the fortified city of Kostyantynivka in Donetsk. Stay up-to-date with the troop movements on both sides by reading Adam Morrow’s latest report.
—Stacy Robinson
