Jerusalem — Knesset address: President Trump declares an “end of an age of terror and death” amid hostage releases

President Trump told Israel’s parliament that “this is the end of an age of terror and death,” delivering a speech in the Knesset that coincided with the return of hostages and the start of a cease-fire under a Trump-brokered peace agreement.

After celebrations in Israel marking the homecoming of loved ones more than 700 days after they were taken, former U.S. President Donald Trump addressed the Knesset alongside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other leaders. He portrayed the moment as a turning point—an end to years of bloodshed and fear, and the beginning of a future rooted in faith, hope, and a broader regional peace.

Trump paid tribute to the 20 surviving hostages who were reunited with their families after two years underground with little to eat, and he honored the 28 captives who were killed, whose remains are expected to be returned under the agreement in the coming days and weeks. He said the return of the survivors was a glorious relief after years of darkness and captivity, and that those who perished would finally come home to be laid to rest. He added that, after so many years of constant conflict and danger, Israel was experiencing a rare quiet—no gunfire, no sirens—offering a glimpse of the calm many have long prayed for.

According to Trump’s remarks, the hostages’ release and a halt in fighting in Gaza constitute phase one of a 20-point agreement, under which Israel released thousands of Palestinian prisoners. He said the next phase—disarming Hamas and establishing a transitional government in Gaza led by an international body—could be more difficult.

Addressing Israel’s position after two years of war and international pressure, Trump said, “So Israel, with our help, has won all that they can by force of arms,” adding, “You’ve won. I mean, you’ve won. Now it’s time to translate these victories against terrorists on the battlefield into the ultimate prize of peace and security for the entire Middle East.”

Trump said Palestinians face a clear choice: to permanently abandon terror and violence and remove the extremist forces operating among them.

Israeli leaders praised Trump ahead of the address, arguing he deserves a Nobel Peace Prize for his role in the cease-fire. Red hats reading “Trump, the peace president” were distributed in the chamber.

The speech was briefly interrupted when Ofer Cassif, a Hadash party lawmaker described as far-left, began shouting while Trump was praising his Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, for helping bring “peace in the Middle East.” Cassif was expelled from the chamber to cheers from most lawmakers; security also removed another Knesset member.

Trump mixed policy and personal notes, referencing achievements from his first term—including the Abraham Accords, efforts against Islamic terrorism, and withdrawal from former President Barack Obama’s Iran nuclear deal—and mentioning that his daughter Ivanka Trump, present for the speech, converted to Judaism upon marrying Jared Kushner. He credited Kushner, alongside Witkoff, for helping achieve the peace deal. Joking about the couple, he said, “And she is so happy, and they are so happy, at least, I think they’re happy. If they’re not, we have a big story right now.”

During an unscripted moment, Trump appealed to Israeli President Isaac Herzog to issue a pardon for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on a bribery case, remarking that the idea simply “made sense” and acknowledging it wasn’t part of his prepared remarks.

The trip was Trump’s first to Israel since beginning his second term, and it made him the first U.S. president to speak before the Knesset since George W. Bush in 2008. Prior to the address, he met with families of the former hostages. Concluding his remarks, Trump said that, against the odds, the week had delivered the return of the captives and a shared sense of peace. He vowed to help shape a future that honors the region’s heritage and to leave a legacy that people across the Middle East can take pride in.