Trump was met with several minutes of standing ovations when he took his place in Israel's parliament, the Knesset. Among the spectators, several people were wearing red caps with the text "Trump – the peace president".
In his speech, Trump praised Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as well as leaders in Muslim and Arab countries who helped to get the Gaza agreement in place. The ceasefire is an "enormous triumph for Israel and the world", according to Trump, who calls it "peace through strength".
You used the weapons very well, he said, turning to Netanyahu – referring to the weapons that the US had supplied Israel with during the war – and claimed that Israel "won everything they can win".
Now it's time to translate these victories over terrorists on the battlefield into the ultimate goal: peace and prosperity for the entire Middle East.
Removed from the hall
The focus for the people of Gaza should be on reconstruction and economic development, Trump said further. Otherwise, the hour-long speech dealt very little with civilians in Gaza and much more with American successes, including against Iran. The US "stands ready" for talks when Iran is ready to make peace with Israel, according to Trump.
The speech was briefly interrupted when two left-wing members of the parliament held up signs with the demand to recognize Palestine. A commotion broke out when the two men were roughly removed.
Before Trump spoke, Netanyahu spoke to the Knesset – and called Trump once again "Israel's best friend ever in the White House". Trump's name is now "engraved in human history", according to Netanyahu.
To Egypt
Before the speeches, the two leaders held a brief meeting, according to The Times of Israel, together with the US envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, who has been involved in the recent peace negotiations in Egypt.
Trump landed in Israel just before 9 am on Monday, Swedish time, and was then received with a red carpet, pomp, and ceremony. During the afternoon, he traveled on to Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt, for a summit on what is now happening with Gaza and the upcoming phases of the US's 20-point plan for peace.
Trump's visit to Israel took place in parallel with the release of the remaining 20 hostages in Gaza.
To journalists on the plane over the Atlantic, Trump said that he would be "proud" if he got to visit the Gaza Strip sometime in the future, reports AFP.
