Trump hails ‘fresh start’ as Israel-Hamas prisoner swap unfolds
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President Donald Trump hailed a “new beginning” for the Middle East on Monday ahead of his speech to the Israeli parliament, as Hamas freed all 20 living Israeli hostages from captivity in Gaza.
Trump arrived in Israel Monday morning to coincide with the exchange of Palestinian hostages and prisoners between Israel and Hamas.
“This is a great honor for me, a great and beautiful day. A new beginning,” Trump wrote in a guestbook.
The 20 living Israeli hostages were released Monday as part of a deal aimed at ending the conflict that began with the October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas terrorists. Israel also began releasing around 2,000 Palestinians, including 250 terrorists.
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Trump wrote in a Knesset guestbook: “It is my great honor – a great and beautiful day. A new beginning.” Trump attended the Israeli Parliament on Monday, October 13, 2025 in Jerusalem. (Avi Ohayon/GPO)
Trump received several ovations from Israeli lawmakers as he prepared to deliver a speech after meeting with the families of the hostages.
President Donald Trump receives a standing ovation before speaking in the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, Monday, Oct. 13, 2025, in Jerusalem. (Chip Somodevilla/Pool via AP)
Trump plans to declare “the historic dawn of a new Middle East” in his Knesset speech and that “generations from now, it will be remembered as the moment when everything began to change,” according to excerpts released by the White House.
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Trump will also insist that “Israel has won everything that can be won by force of arms” and that “it is time to translate these victories against terrorists on the battlefield into the ultimate prize of peace and prosperity.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses the Knesset as President Donald Trump and Amir Ohana, Speaker of the Israeli Knesset, look on at the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, Monday, Oct. 13, 2025, in Jerusalem. (Chip Somodevilla/Pool via AP)
In a gesture toward Iran, which fought a brief war with Israel earlier this year, Trump plans to say that “the hand of friendship and cooperation is always open.”
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After his visit to Israel, the president will then travel to Egypt, where Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi will lead a summit in Sharm el-Sheikh with leaders of more than 20 countries on peace in Gaza and the broader Middle East.
Rachel Wolf of Fox News Digital and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
