Trump hails ‘new Middle East’ in Knesset speech; urges Netanyahu pardon as 20 hostages freed
Speaking to Israel’s parliament, Donald Trump urged a pardon for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, hailed “the historic dawn of a new Middle East,” praised envoy Steve Witkoff and celebrated the freeing of 20 living hostages and return of 28 sets of remains amid standing ovations while two lawmakers were ejected for holding “Recognize Palestine” signs. He declined to commit to a one- or two-state outcome and said immediate priorities are Gaza rebuilding and implementing the ceasefire, even as reports and circulating videos indicate Hamas has been executing rivals and clashing with local militias as it moves to reassert control in Gaza.
Politics
War & Conflict
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📌 Key Facts
- Trump told the Knesset the moment marks the "historic dawn of a new Middle East," saying 20 living hostages were freed and 28 sets of remains returned; his address drew repeated standing ovations and he framed himself as "about stopping wars," referencing "eight wars in eight months."
- Two Israeli lawmakers were ejected from the Knesset after displaying "Recognize Palestine" signs during Trump's remarks.
- Trump publicly praised special envoy Steve Witkoff as key to the deal, joking he is "Henry Kissinger who doesn't leak."
- Hillary Clinton told CBS the U.S.-brokered plan is "a significant step" and she commended President Trump and his administration for it.
- After the Knesset address, Trump declined to commit to either a one-state or two-state outcome, saying "We'll have to see," and said the near-term priority is Gaza rebuilding and implementation of the first phase of the ceasefire.
- Videos circulating on social media and Fox reporting show Hamas publicly executing rivals in Gaza City’s main square; an Israeli military official said such displays are meant to reassert rule through terror, and Gazans describe Hamas fighters and police reappearing on streets to reestablish control.
- Analyst Mukhaimar Abu Saada said Hamas issued an ultimatum giving alleged collaborators until Oct. 19 to surrender and seek amnesty (excluding those involved in killings), and there are accounts of recent deadly clashes between Hamas and local militias, suggesting instability despite ceasefire declarations.
📚 Contextual Background
- A 2025 U.S. peace plan linked a hostage release to a reciprocal exchange involving Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
- U.S. officials in 2025 described a two-phase approach to ceasefire negotiations in which an initial hostage release would be followed by an Israeli military pullback to a previously held boundary position, while decisions about Gaza's future governing structure could be negotiated concurrently.
- 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.
- The 2025 Trump peace proposal called for an end to Israel's military operations in Gaza, the disarmament of Hamas, and the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip under a Palestinian governing body overseen by a U.S.-led international coalition.
- 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 Trump administration supports a two-state solution for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, conditioned on direct negotiation with Israel and the fulfillment of defined security conditions.
📊 Analysis & Commentary (2)
Trump’s Triumphal March
"A pro‑Trump opinion piece that praises the president’s central role in securing the release of hostages and convening a Sharm el‑Sheikh summit (and lauds Netanyahu), but cautions that deep regional problems mean this diplomatic triumph is not the same as lasting peace."
Trump’s victory lap
"The Politico Playbook piece reads as a skeptical take on President Trump's high‑visibility Middle East tour — arguing it functions as a self‑styled 'victory lap' that trades substantive, multilateral diplomacy for spectacle and domestic political gain while creating diplomatic risks."
📰 Sources (4)
After Trump declares ‘war is over,’ Hamas executes rivals in Gaza to reassert control
New information:
- Videos circulating on social media appear to show Hamas publicly executing rivals in Gaza City’s main square; an Israeli military official told Fox News Digital the displays are meant to reassert rule through terror.
- Gazans interviewed describe Hamas fighters and police reappearing on the streets to reestablish control despite the ceasefire context.
- Political analyst Mukhaimar Abu Saada says Hamas issued an ultimatum giving alleged collaborators until Oct. 19 to surrender and seek amnesty (excluding those involved in killings).
- Accounts of recent deadly clashes between Hamas and local militias, suggesting instability despite declarations that the 'war is over.'
Trump declines to commit to two-state solution after historic Gaza peace deal: 'We'll have to see'
New information:
- After his Knesset address, Trump told reporters he is not committing to either one- or two-state outcomes, saying “We’ll have to see.”
- He framed the near-term priority as Gaza rebuilding and ongoing implementation of the first phase of the ceasefire.
Trump hails "historic dawn of a new Middle East" in speech to Knesset
New information:
- CBS reports two Israeli lawmakers were ejected from the Knesset after holding “Recognize Palestine” signs during Trump’s remarks.
- Trump publicly praised special envoy Steve Witkoff as key to the deal, quipping he’s “Henry Kissinger who doesn’t leak.”
- Hillary Clinton told CBS News the U.S.-brokered plan is “a significant step,” saying she “really commend[s] President Trump and his administration.”
- Trump framed the moment as the “historic dawn of a new Middle East,” noting 20 living hostages freed and 28 sets of remains returned.
- The article details repeated standing ovations and Trump’s claim he’s “about stopping wars,” referencing “eight wars in eight months.”