Trump Arrives in Israel to Meet Hostage Families as Hamas Completes Releases Under Ceasefire

U.S. President Donald Trump arrived in Israel on Monday to meet with families of the recently freed hostages following Hamas’s first releases under a U.S.-brokered ceasefire agreement.

Trump’s plane touched down at Ben Gurion International Airport at 9:45 a.m. local time, where he was welcomed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog.

Speaking to reporters on Air Force One, Trump praised his role in brokering the ceasefire and described a celebratory atmosphere across the region.

“Everybody is happy, whether it’s Jews or Muslims or the Arab countries — every country is dancing in the streets,” he said. “It’s a point in time I don’t think you’ll ever see it again. They’ve never seen it in 3,000 years.”

Israel rolled out the red carpet for the visit. After greeting officials on the tarmac as a military band played, Trump departed in a motorcade.

He is scheduled to meet hostage families alongside Netanyahu at the Knesset before addressing the Israeli parliament later in the day.

Ahead of his speech, supporters were seen wearing red “MAGA-style” hats with the slogan “TRUMP THE PEACE PRESIDENT.” According to POLITICO, Trump is also set to receive Israel’s highest civilian honor later this year.

Later Monday, he will co-host a peace summit with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in Sharm el-Sheikh, bringing together more than 20 world leaders.

The visit coincides with Hamas’s announcement that it has released all remaining living hostages under the ceasefire deal. While Trump celebrated the development, questions remain over the next phases of the agreement.

He reiterated plans to form a “Board of Peace” to oversee Gaza’s governance and hinted at possibly including former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair in the transitional administration. “I like Tony, but I want to make sure he’s acceptable to everybody,” Trump said.

Declaring the war “over” during his flight from Washington, Trump expressed optimism about the region’s future, saying, “I think it’s going to normalize.”