Trump arrives in Tel Aviv before Sharm el-Sheikh summit
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US President Donald Trump landed in "Israel" as Hamas released the first batch of captives and is set to address the Knesset before traveling to Egypt’s Sharm el-Sheikh for the Gaza summit.
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President Donald Trump walks with "Israel's" President Isaac Herzog, left, and "Israel's" Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during an arrival ceremony at Ben Gurion International Airport, on October 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
US President Donald Trump arrived in "Israel" on Monday, shortly after the announcement of the release of the first batch of Israeli captives by Hamas. The visit coincides with the implementation of the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire deal.
Trump was received at the airport by Israeli President Isaac Herzog and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who stood alongside his wife, Sara Netanyahu, and US special envoy Steve Witkoff, one of the key figures behind brokering the agreement.
During his visit, Trump will address the Knesset, becoming only the fourth US president to do so, following in the footsteps of Jimmy Carter (1979), Bill Clinton (1994), and George W. Bush (2008). His speech is expected to highlight the ceasefire agreement and ongoing efforts to end the war on the Gaza Strip.
Following his address in the Knesset, Trump will travel to Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, where a summit is set to bring together world leaders to discuss pathways toward a lasting ceasefire and political resolution to the war.
Earlier in the day, Hamas handed over seven Israeli captives to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), with the names of the 20 captives scheduled for release today made public. In turn, the Israeli military confirmed that preparations had been completed for the transfer, in line with the terms of the ceasefire plan.
Trump hails Gaza Deal as his 'biggest' achievement
Before arriving in the occupied territories, Trump told Axios in a phone interview aboard Air Force One, that the Gaza peace agreement "could be the biggest thing I was ever involved in."
When asked about the message he plans to deliver in Knesset, Trump responded, "Love and peace for eternity."
He said he watched parts of a rally in Askalan on Saturday held in support of the captives. The event featured speeches by his daughter, Ivanka Trump, his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and special envoy Steve Witkoff. "It was an incredible rally. It was a great thing. Everybody is thrilled," Trump said, adding that he spoke to all three after the event.
