Trump Heads to Israel for Historic Ceasefire Visit
President Donald Trump embarked on a journey to Israel on Sunday, aiming to meet with the families of Israeli hostages and address the Knesset, the Israeli parliament.
This visit follows his successful negotiation of a ceasefire and the release of the remaining hostages held by Hamas, a significant diplomatic achievement.
Trump departed from Joint Base Andrews at around 5 p.m. Eastern Time aboard Air Force One, with the flight expected to take roughly 10.5 hours. His delegation included several high-ranking officials, such as Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, and CIA Director John Ratcliffe.
Before boarding, Trump spoke to the press, celebrating the effects of the peace deal. He noted, “There are 500,000 people yesterday and today in Israel, and also the Muslim and Arab countries are all cheering. Everybody’s cheering at one time — that’s never happened before.”
Upon inquiries about the hostage situation during the flight, Trump mentioned that the hostages might be released earlier than expected, adding, “Getting them was amazing, actually, because we were involved and they were in places that you don’t want to know about.” He also remarked on the tragic loss of life, stating, “They’re getting the bodies, approximately 28 bodies. … It’s a tragedy.”
Declaring optimism about the peace prospects, Trump stated, “The war is over. I think [the ceasefire] is going to hold. People are tired of it. It’s been — it’s been centuries.”
During his short visit, Trump is set to participate in a welcoming ceremony at Ben Gurion Airport before meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and addressing the Knesset. Additionally, he will attend an international summit at a Red Sea resort in Egypt to finalize the peace accord.
Following this important trip, Trump is expected to honor the late conservative activist Charlie Kirk with the Presidential Medal of Freedom on October 14th.
“This is a very quick trip, but I’ll be making two major stops,” Trump said on Friday, expressing his hope to return in time for a significant celebration at the White House.
