Trump Hailed in Israel as Gaza Ceasefire Brings Fragile Hope for Peace

U.S. President Donald Trump arrived in Israel to a hero’s welcome at the Knesset on Monday, as a fragile Gaza ceasefire he helped broker entered its fourth day. The truce, following two years of war sparked by Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack that killed around 1,200 Israelis, has brought cautious optimism amid deep devastation. Gaza’s health authorities report over 67,000 Palestinians have died from Israeli strikes since the conflict began.

“The war is over,” Trump declared aboard Air Force One, expressing hope for “normalization” in the region. His visit coincides with the expected release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners — a symbolic step toward reconciliation. The United Nations confirmed increased humanitarian aid to Gaza, including fuel, food, and medicine deliveries.

Despite Trump’s optimism, peace remains uncertain. The truce, part of a broader 20-point “Trump Peace Plan,” will be discussed at a summit in Egypt attended by more than 20 global leaders, including Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Israel declined to attend, though officials said 20 living hostages would be released before Palestinian detainees are freed.

Trump’s popularity in Israel was on full display as crowds in Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square cheered him and booed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who faces criticism for allegedly prolonging the war. Netanyahu, under ICC scrutiny for alleged war crimes, called the moment “a new path of building and healing.”

The next stage of Trump’s plan envisions an international “Board of Peace,” co-led by Trump and former U.K. Prime Minister Tony Blair, to oversee Gaza’s post-war governance. Yet, disagreements persist — particularly over Hamas’s role and the release of Palestinian prisoners — leaving the path to lasting peace uncertain.