JERUSALEM — In a dramatic and heavily anticipated address to Israel’s Knesset on October 13, 2025, former U.S. President Donald Trump proclaimed what he cast as the definitive end of the Gaza war and the beginning of a “historic dawn of a new Middle East.”
Speaking before Israeli lawmakers, Trump celebrated the release of 20 remaining hostages by Hamas, calling the ceasefire deal a major diplomatic breakthrough.  He asserted that “the skies are calm, the guns are silent,” urging that the military victories now be converted into lasting peace.  He also reaffirmed that the United States would stand with Israel’s security, and floated the possibility of a broader agreement with Iran should Tehran reciprocate. 
Trump used the platform to praise Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calling him tough but deserving of acclaim, and even suggested that Israel’s president consider pardoning Netanyahu amid legal challenges.  During the speech, two left‑wing Knesset members were removed after protesting with signs demanding Palestinian recognition. 
While applause and standing ovations marked much of the session, analysts note that Trump’s sweeping declarations face serious tests: demilitarizing Hamas, reconstructing Gaza, settling governance arrangements, and addressing Israeli-Palestinian tensions in the West Bank. 
