TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Following the ceasefire agreement in Gaza, U.S. President Donald Trump made a high-profile, brief visit to Israel and Egypt on Monday, October 13.
As reported by Al Jazeera and France 24, Trump's visit took place just ahead of the Gaza Summit in the Egyptian coastal city of Sharm el-Sheik. During his few hours in the region, he delivered a speech at the Israeli parliament, Knesset, before attending the signing of an agreement in Sharm el-Sheik alongside regional and international leaders.
The visit coincided with a major component of the ceasefire agreement, which was mediated by the Trump administration. On the same day, Israel announced the return of the final 20 hostages, who had been held in Gaza for two years.
Under the terms of the agreement, Israel is scheduled to release nearly 2,000 Palestinian detainees. This group includes 250 security detainees, some of whom were convicted of killing Israeli citizens, and approximately 1,700 people detained during the recent conflict in Gaza.
In Tel Aviv, thousands gathered to support the families of the hostages as news of the first release was received. Meanwhile, in Ramallah, a city in the West Bank, a large crowd celebrated the arrival of the initial bus carrying the freed Palestinian detainees.
1. Heralding a "New Middle East"
In his speech at the Knesset, Trump described the ceasefire in Gaza as the birth of a new Middle East. "This is the end of an age of terror and death and the beginning of the age of faith and hope and of God," he said.
He added that this was the start of harmony for Israel and all nations in the region. Trump then emphasized a vision of a stable Middle East, friendly toward America and Israel, and open to trade.
2. Praise and Clemency Call for Netanyahu
Trump offered strong praise for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is currently facing domestic corruption charges, and controversially called on Israeli President Isaac Herzog to grant him clemency.
"I have an idea: Mr president, why don’t you give him a pardon?" he said. He went on to refer to Netanyahu as "one of the greatest war leaders."
Trump also recounted that Netanyahu often asks him for arms supplies. "We make the best weapons in the world, and we’ve got a lot of them, and we’ve given a lot to Israel, frankly," he said.
The United States has provided an estimated US$21 billion in military aid to Israel over the past two years, aid which was deployed during the genocide in Gaza that killed nearly 68,000 Palestinian civilians.
3. Trump Acknowledges International Pressure
While praising Israel, Trump acknowledged the growing global pressure on Israel's military actions in Gaza. "The world is big and is strong, and ultimately, the world wins," he said.
He admitted to advising Netanyahu to stop the war. "If you would have gone on for three, four more years – keep fighting, fighting, fighting – it was getting bad," he said.
Trump called Netanyahu's move to stop the war a far better decision.
4. Trump's Message to Palestine
Trump also mentioned Palestine in his speech, accusing the people of Gaza of "terrorism and violence." He then urged them to pivot toward stability, safety, dignity, and economic development.
"Now is the time to concentrate on building their people up, instead of trying to tear Israel down," he said.
However, Trump did not address the Palestinians' right to a state or the genocide committed by Israel in his statement.
5. Trump Sends Signals to Iran
Trump also directed a clear message toward Iran. "We don’t have a Gaza and we don’t have an Iran as an excuse," he stated, suggesting the ceasefire removed a major geopolitical shield.
However, he admitted he remains open to diplomacy, adding, "I’d love to take the sanctions off when they’re ready to talk."
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