US president says he ended ‘granddaddy’ of wars, as leaders sign 462-word memo

“Together, we achieved what everyone said was impossible; we finally achieved peace in the Middle East. We’ve heard about it for years, but no one thought we could get there, and now we’re there.”

There was little public discussion of the next phase of Trump’s plan, which calls for the establishment of a “Peace Board” that would provide services in Gaza and an interim, apolitical Palestinian committee overseen by a foreign peacekeeping force that would work with Jordan, Egypt and Israel.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said Trump’s plan is a historical milestone that creates the “fundamental political horizon” for a two-state solution, which is the only way to realize the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people.

On Air Force One to return to the United States, Trump did not express a clear view on the Palestinian state and said he was only talking about the reconstruction of Gaza. The peace plan says that once the redevelopment of Gaza progresses and the Palestinian Authority implements significant reforms, the conditions for Palestinian statehood can finally be met.

Previously, Trump received a hero’s welcome when he became the fourth US president to speak in the Knesset, Israel’s parliament; Here he staked his claim as a global peacemaker, congratulating Israel on winning the war against Hamas and foreshadowing a possible deal with Iran in a loose, colorful speech.

Trump said Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu showed courage by agreeing to end the war now, after two years, rather than trying to completely destroy Hamas and Gaza in response to attacks that killed 1,200 Israelis and took 250 hostage on October 7, 2023.

He revealed that he had counseled Netanyahu against holding out for more, suggesting that Israel was losing its remaining goodwill from the world as the war dragged on. More than 60,000 Palestinians, including Hamas fighters and civilians, were killed.

“I can tell Bibi: [Netanyahu]”Bibi, it’s time,” Trump told lawmakers. “If you had continued for another three or four years, if you had continued to fight, fight, fight, things were getting worse, they were getting escalated.”

“I said: Bibi, you’ll be remembered this way more than if you kept this thing going, keeping it going, killing, killing, killing. It won’t be the same.”

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Many of Trump’s political opponents praised him for brokering the ceasefire, including Joe Biden, who said the road had not been easy and that he was deeply grateful that day had come. Former Democratic president Bill Clinton also said Trump deserved praise along with Qatar and other regional actors.

Australia’s Acting Prime Minister, Richard Marles, told Sky News that this was an “incredible achievement” by Trump, one that will be remembered by history and that the president deserves a tremendous amount of credit.

In the footage published by the Israeli government, the moments when the 20 released hostages were reunited with their joyful families were recorded. While some of the 2000 prisoners released by Israel within the scope of the agreement were brought home by buses, celebrations were held in the streets of Gaza.

Mahmud Fayez, who was sent back to Gaza after being detained early last year during Israel’s raid on Shifa Hospital, said, “Praise be to our Lord, who honored us with this salvation and this joy.”

Alex Ryvchin, co-chairman of the Executive Council of Australian Jews, said it was a beautiful thing to watch Israeli hostages reunited with their loved ones. “This is something that’s been going on for centuries,” he told Nine’s. Today program.

However, conditions were more difficult for the families of the 28 dead hostages. Contrary to the understanding that most, if not all, bodies would be returned immediately, Hamas returned only four on Monday (Tuesday AEST).

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum said Israel should suspend the agreement until all remains are returned. “Both parties must respect the agreement,” the statement said. “If Hamas isn’t doing its part, Israel shouldn’t be doing its part either.”

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz accused Hamas of failing to honor its commitments, warning about X: “Any delay or deliberate evasion will be considered a gross violation of the agreement and will be responded to accordingly.”

Trump said the ceasefire and hostage agreement would not have been possible had it not been for the U.S. bombing of Iran’s nuclear facilities in June, which weakened or eliminated a major source of risk for Israel and other neighbors. Trump also expressed confidence in a new peace agreement with Iran.

“We are ready when you are ready, and this will be the best decision Iran has ever made,” he told the Knesset.

– David Crowe, Reuters, with AP

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