Trump urges Netanyahu pardon in Knesset, touts ceasefire as 20 hostages freed
President Trump traveled to Israel to address the Knesset, where he hailed a U.S.-brokered ceasefire that resulted in the release of all 20 living Israeli hostages and publicly urged President Isaac Herzog to pardon Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He met hostage families, touted the deal’s terms — including large releases of Palestinian detainees, a partial Israeli pullback and a surge of humanitarian aid — and said he would co‑lead a Sharm el‑Sheikh summit with Egypt, attended by more than 20 world leaders, to oversee reconstruction and a multinational security framework.
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📌 Key Facts
- President Trump made a whirlwind trip to the Middle East: he visited Israel, addressed the Knesset (where he urged President Isaac Herzog to pardon Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu), met with hostage families and declared “the war is over,” then flew to co‑lead a Sharm el‑Sheikh summit in Egypt with more than 20 world leaders; he is scheduled to return to Washington to present the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
- A U.S.-backed ceasefire went into effect after Israeli troops withdrew from parts of Gaza, triggering a 72‑hour window for Hamas to hand over hostages and enabling a large humanitarian scale‑up (operational targets reported up to ~600 aid trucks per day, with hundreds arriving immediately).
- All 20 living Israeli hostages were released under the deal: transfers were coordinated by the Red Cross, temporarily processed at sites such as the Re’im military base, and taken to hospitals including Sheba for medical checks and family reunions after roughly 738 days in captivity; the releases produced emotional public reunions and photo coverage.
- The exchange included the reciprocal release by Israel of about 1,900–2,000 Palestinian prisoners (variously reported), including roughly 250 long‑term prisoners designated as terrorists and large numbers of Gaza detainees; some released Palestinians were deported to third countries via Rafah.
- Hamas agreed to provide the remains of deceased captives (28 remains were reported), with initial deliveries of several bodies and a multinational task force planned to help locate and repatriate the rest, including two Americans among the deceased.
- The U.S. plan for postwar Gaza calls for a technocratic Palestinian interim governance mechanism, an international “Board of Peace” (reported to be chaired by Trump with participants like Tony Blair), a multinational security force under a UN mandate, and donor‑funded reconstruction efforts.
- Egypt publicly committed to helping secure Gaza — including training (with Jordan) of up to 5,000 Palestinians for security roles and offering troops to an international force — while other countries (Britain, Germany and others) pledged monitoring or assistance with decommissioning Hamas weaponry at the Sharm el‑Sheikh summit.
- Trump credited U.S. diplomacy (including leverage with Qatar and Turkey) and earlier actions targeting Iran’s nuclear program for weakening support for Hamas and enabling the deal; he said the agreement could be a major foreign‑policy accomplishment and signaled plans to press for broader regional settlements (including on Iran) and shift attention next to talks over Ukraine.
📚 Contextual Background
- A peace plan proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump called for Hamas to free all remaining hostages and for the Israeli military to begin withdrawing from parts of Gaza in phases; the plan also proposed transferring parts of Gaza to a "technocratic" Palestinian committee and deploying a temporary security force backed by Arab states.
- The proposed plan specified that Hamas would release the remaining hostages taken on October 7, 2023 within 72 hours of an agreement, and that Israel would release 250 Palestinians serving life sentences plus 1,700 other Gazans detained after the start of the conflict as part of the exchange.
📊 Analysis & Commentary (1)
Playbook: Trump’s full-court stress test
"The Politico Playbook piece frames Trump’s simultaneous Israel/Egypt diplomatic push as a potentially major win that is being stress‑tested — and possibly undermined — by concurrent domestic crises (shutdown, layoffs, legal and trade confrontations), praising the diplomatic stakes while warning that governance failures at home could negate the benefits."
📰 Sources (21)
WATCH: Netanyahu tells Israeli parliament he’s ‘committed to this peace’ as Trump touts Gaza deal
New information:
- Netanyahu told the Knesset he is “committed to this peace” and framed the day as the end of two years of war on the Jewish calendar.
- Trump received repeated standing ovations; some attendees wore hats reading “Trump, The Peace President.”
- Trump acknowledged his call for a Netanyahu pardon was not in his prepared text and met with families of hostages at the Knesset.
- Article reiterates that 20 hostages were released Monday under the deal and the ceasefire began Friday with exchanges underway.
WATCH: Trump celebrates hostage release, calls for Netanyahu pardon in speech to Israeli parliament
New information:
- Trump, in his Knesset address, publicly urged Israeli President Isaac Herzog to pardon Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
- He declared Israel had ‘won’ militarily and pressed to translate battlefield gains into a regional peace, promising U.S. help to rebuild Gaza.
- He extended a rhetorical ‘hand of friendship’ to Iran despite earlier U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites during the brief war with Israel.
- He praised major donor Miriam Adelson from the podium; lawmakers repeatedly chanted his name.
- Netanyahu will not attend the Sharm el‑Sheikh summit due to Simchat Torah; Trump said his Knesset stop made him late to the summit.
- Trump may visit newly freed hostages at Sheba Medical Center and met with families at the Knesset; 20 hostages were released Monday.
Trump Declares an End to Gaza War in Middle East Victory Lap
New information:
- Trump formally declared the Gaza war 'over' in a speech to Israel’s Knesset, calling it 'the historic dawn of a new Middle East.'
- He said he leveraged ties with Qatar and Turkey to secure the up‑front release of the remaining 20 living Israeli hostages.
- Trump urged a broader regional settlement, including pursuing an Iran nuclear restriction deal and pressed Netanyahu to seek a peace agreement with Iran.
- He is heading to Sharm el‑Sheikh for a leaders’ summit to build a postwar framework, while noting a multinational security force and interim governance still need negotiation.
- Trump indicated his small national‑security team will next prioritize talks with Russia on Ukraine.
Living hostages and Palestinian prisoners released as part of Gaza ceasefire
New information:
- Hamas said it will release the bodies of four of the 28 deceased Israeli captives; timing for the remaining remains is unclear.
- Netanyahu told the Knesset he is "committed to this peace" and marked the "end of two years of war" on the Jewish calendar.
- AP/PBS recounts the coordinated transfers and public scenes as buses of released Palestinian prisoners arrived and Israelis watched hostage returns nationwide.
- Confirms Trump’s presence in Israel to address the Knesset and his planned travel to Egypt for a summit on the U.S.-proposed deal and postwar plans.
Live updates: Hamas frees living hostages, Israel releases prisoners as Trump visits Middle East
New information:
- An Egyptian official said 154 Palestinian prisoners released and deported by Israel arrived at Egypt’s Rafah crossing and will be sent to third countries under the deal.
- UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Britain stands ready to help monitor the ceasefire and assist with decommissioning Hamas weaponry, citing Northern Ireland experience.
- President Trump addressed Israel’s Knesset, declaring the U.S.-brokered deal effectively ended the Israel–Hamas war and will discuss postwar plans with leaders in Egypt later Monday.
- German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he hopes Trump can apply similar influence to end the war in Ukraine and plans to discuss it at the Egypt summit.
- Human‑interest detail: released hostage Bar Kupershtein reunited with his father Tal, who stood from a wheelchair to embrace him.
Israeli hostages reunited with families in emotional moments
New information:
- Identifies specific released hostages and reunions: Guy Gilboa-Dalal; twins Gali and Ziv Berman; Lishay Miran-Lavi reunited with husband Omri Miran.
- States hostages arrived back in Israel for medical checks after 738 days in captivity.
- Adds on-the-ground detail of first seven freed Monday appearing 'pale but less gaunt' than some released in January.
- Includes Trump’s Knesset quote framing the release as a turning point and notes he met with families at the Knesset.
Netanyahu to skip Trump’s Middle East peace summit in Egypt as new regional dynamics take shape
New information:
- The Sharm el-Sheikh summit linked to the ceasefire process will proceed without Netanyahu, per his office.
- Summit co-hosts are President Trump and Egypt’s President el-Sisi, with more than 20 world leaders expected.
- Opposition criticism inside Israel (Yair Golan) framed the absence as politically motivated.
Israeli and Palestinian prisoners released as part of ceasefire
New information:
- Israel began releasing more than 1,900 Palestinian prisoners, with buses arriving in Beitunia (West Bank) and in Gaza.
- All 20 freed hostages are men; Israel also expects the return of the remains of 28 deceased hostages (timing not yet clear).
- Netanyahu told the Knesset he is "committed to this peace"; President Trump is expected to address the Knesset and then attend a summit on the U.S.-proposed deal and postwar plans.
- A surge of humanitarian aid into Gaza is expected alongside the ceasefire, with parts of Gaza experiencing famine.
- AP details include first photos of freed hostages, such as 28-year-old twins Gali and Ziv Berman reuniting, and that transfers proceeded via the Red Cross.
Netanyahu calls Trump Israel’s 'greatest friend' as final living hostages released
New information:
- All 20 living hostages have now been released under the ceasefire/prisoner-exchange deal.
- Exchange terms include Israel freeing 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.
- Netanyahu publicly called Trump Israel’s 'greatest friend' and said 'No American president has ever done more for Israel.'
- Additional framework details: Israel halts operations and withdraws to predefined lines; humanitarian aid flows under UN/Red Crescent oversight; amnesty/safe passage for Hamas members who renounce violence; a technocratic transition with an international 'Board of Peace' chaired by Trump and including Tony Blair.
Trump writes message to Israelis after all living hostages released by Hamas
New information:
- Update from partial to full: all 20 living Israeli hostages have now been released.
- Israel commenced the reciprocal release of around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, including 250 designated as terrorists.
- Trump’s guest-book message and planned Knesset remarks released by the White House.
- Next diplomatic step: Trump to co-lead a Sharm el-Sheikh summit with leaders from more than 20 countries.
Hamas releases 7 Israeli hostages as part of Gaza peace deal
New information:
- Seven Israeli hostages were released shortly before President Trump’s landing in Israel, with 13 more expected later in the morning.
- The agreement’s implementation includes a multinational task force to locate 28 deceased hostages’ remains, including two Americans.
- Specific prisoner-exchange figures: 250 lifers (excluding ~two dozen) and 1,700 Gaza detainees to be released by Israel.
Trump to Axios: Gaza deal might by my biggest accomplishment
New information:
- Trump says the Gaza deal "could be the biggest thing I was ever involved in" and his Knesset message will be "Love and peace for eternity" (direct quotes).
- He confirms he will meet hostage families and PM Benjamin Netanyahu during the Israel stop.
- Axios reports Israel was preparing for the imminent release of the last 20 live hostages held by Hamas.
- Trump says he is enthusiastic about Monday's Sharm el‑Sheikh conference and cites broad international attendance as validation of his plan.
- He notes Netanyahu is not expected to attend the Egypt conference (says the hosts set the guest list) and welcomes Mahmoud Abbas' expected attendance.
- Trump claims his June order to attack Iran’s nuclear facilities helped enable the Gaza deal by weakening Tehran’s backing for Hamas.
Trump starts week in Middle East, overseeing historic peace agreement
New information:
- Trump publicly declared, “The war is over,” before departing Joint Base Andrews for Israel.
- He said some hostages could be released earlier than previously signaled.
- Trump praised Netanyahu’s role, saying the Israeli PM did a “very good job” securing the deal.
- An Egyptian presidential spokesperson (via Reuters) said more than 20 world leaders will attend the Sharm el-Sheikh summit.
- Schedule specificity: Trump will meet families of hostages, address the Knesset, then fly to Egypt on Monday before returning to Washington early Tuesday.
Trump says Hamas may release 20 hostages ‘a little bit early’ as he heads to Middle East
New information:
- While traveling to the region on Oct. 12, Trump said Hamas may release 20 hostages earlier than planned.
- The remark is a timing update aligned with his in-person diplomatic push in Israel/Egypt.
Trump leaves for a visit to Israel, and will later co-chair a meeting in Egypt on the Gaza peace plan.
New information:
- Israeli government spokeswoman Shosh Bedrosian said all 20 living hostages are expected to be released at one time to the Red Cross early Monday and initially transferred to the Re’im military base for reunions.
- Vice President JD Vance said Trump plans to welcome the released hostages in person and cautioned some remains of deceased hostages may never be recovered.
- The Egypt summit at Sharm el-Sheikh will include more than 20 countries, the UN secretary-general, and leaders of the UK, France, Italy, and Spain; it remains unclear whether Israeli or Palestinian representatives will attend.
- British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s office said he will pay “particular tribute” to President Trump at the summit.
Netanyahu advisor expresses 'deep faith' in Trump's Gaza ceasefire plan framework approach
New information:
- Introduces details of a 'Board of Peace' chaired by President Trump to supervise Gaza’s reconstruction and governance.
- Names Tony Blair as a participant on the board and describes a technocratic Palestinian committee for day-to-day governance.
- Provides Israeli security assessments of IDF positions post-pullback and the strategic importance of the Philadelphi Corridor.
Transcript: Badr Abdelatty on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan," Oct. 12, 2025
New information:
- Ahead of Trump’s Sharm el‑Sheikh meeting, Egypt publicly commits to supporting and contributing troops to a Gaza international force under a UN Security Council mandate.
- Egypt discloses active training (with Jordan) of up to 5,000 Palestinians for security deployment in Gaza.
Israel says it expects hostages, Palestinian detainees to be released on Monday
New information:
- Israel’s government now expects all 20 living hostages to be released Monday in a single coordinated transfer, aligning with the ceasefire’s first-phase timeline referenced ahead of President Trump’s visit.
- Operational details on aid scale-up (600 trucks/day target; 400 Egyptian trucks Sunday) add context to the environment surrounding the planned presidential visit.
Trump prepares for Middle East trip to highlight ceasefire agreement
New information:
- Trump has been invited to address Israel’s Knesset — a rarity last extended to a U.S. president (George W. Bush) in 2008.
- Israeli troops finished withdrawing from parts of Gaza on Friday, starting a 72-hour clock for Hamas to release hostages.
- Trump said he expects remaining hostages’ return to be completed Monday or Tuesday, possibly while he is on the ground.
- He will travel on to Egypt to co-lead a Sharm el-Sheikh summit with President el-Sissi, with leaders from more than 20 countries.
- Article reiterates first-phase terms: release of 48 hostages (about 20 believed alive), hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, surge of aid, and partial IDF pullback from Gaza’s main cities.
- New on-record quotes from Trump about rebuilding Gaza with funding from wealthy regional states.
Trump plans whirlwind trip to Israel and Egypt before rushing back to White House for Charlie Kirk honor
New information:
- Trump, in Oval Office remarks, confirms a quick trip to Israel to address the Knesset and then to Egypt before returning to Washington.
- He says the 72-hour window for Hamas to hand over 48 hostages and approximately 28 bodies began Friday night local time.
- Egypt will host an international summit in Sharm el-Sheikh on Monday with more than 20 world leaders expected, per an Egyptian spokesperson cited via Reuters.
- Trump adds he will return Tuesday, Oct. 14, to award the Presidential Medal of Freedom to the late Charlie Kirk at the White House East Room.
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