‘Peace in the Middle East’: Trump celebrates Gaza peace deal

President Donald Trump traveled to Egypt Oct. 13 and officially signed the U.S.-backed peace agreement to end the war in Gaza, calling the event “the dawn of a new era” for the Middle East. 

Seated beside the leaders of Turkey, Egypt, and Qatar, Trump signed the deal during a ceremony in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, after months of negotiations.

“This took 3,000 years to get to this point. Can you believe it? And it’s going to hold up too,” Trump said as he signed the agreement. “It’s going to hold up.” 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not attend the peace summit despite an invitation from Trump. Netanyahu cited the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah — which marks the end of the annual Torah reading cycle and the start of a new one — as the reason for his absence, according to The Hill. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, who governs the West Bank, attended the summit and was greeted cordially by Trump. The two men shook hands and exchanged brief remarks.

After the signing, Trump addressed the world leaders and diplomats present.

“This is the day that people across this region and around the world have been working, striving, hoping, and praying for,” he declared. “With the historic agreement we have just signed, those prayers of millions have finally been answered. Together, we have achieved the impossible.”

He later added, “At long last, we have peace in the Middle East, and it’s a very simple expression, ‘peace in the Middle East.’”

Trump thanked those involved in brokering the agreement, singling out Secretary of State Marco Rubio, whom he said would “go down as the greatest secretary of state in the history of our country.”

The signing came hours after Hamas released the final 20 living Israeli captives still held in Gaza and Israeli forces completed their withdrawal to the first agreed-upon line. Israel also released nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees.

>> Jubilation in Israel after hostages released <<

Trump said multiple nations had already pledged major contributions to rebuild Gaza, emphasizing that regional partners would contribute “whatever money is necessary” for reconstruction, though he did not name specific countries.

Several world leaders also used the ceremony to praise Trump’s role in the peace process.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi announced he is awarding Trump the Order of the Nile, Egypt’s highest civilian honor, praising his role in restoring peace and strengthening U.S.-Egypt relations. 

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif similarly said he plans to nominate Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, joining a growing list of leaders who have already called for the honor. 

Speaking to reporters ahead of his official remarks, Trump confirmed that “phase two” of negotiations has already begun. The 20-point peace plan announced by the White House Sept. 29 has four phases. 

Trump said the next step will focus on locating and recovering the bodies of deceased hostages. According to the official X account of the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, only four of the 28 deceased hostages were returned Oct. 13. 

Earlier the same day, Trump visited Jerusalem, where he met with families of Israeli hostages. The White House posted photos on X showing Trump sitting with the captives’ relatives.

Trump then addressed the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, touting his longstanding support for Israel’s leadership and military in a speech celebrating the peace. 

He noted that the U.S. has supplied Israel with “the best weapons in the world” at Netanyahu’s request. 

“We make the best weapons in the world, and we’ve got a lot of them. And we’ve given a lot to Israel, frankly,” Trump said at one point. 

“I mean Bibi would call me so many times, ‘Can you get me this weapon, that weapon, that weapon?’ Some of them I’ve never heard of them, Bibi, but we’d get them here, wouldn’t we?” Trump continued, addressing Netanyahu, who laughed heartily. “They are the best, but you used them well. It also takes people that know how to use them, and you obviously used them very well.”

Trump credited Israel’s U.S.-backed military power for leading to peace, while urging Palestinians to “turn forever from the path of terror and violence that’s been extreme.”

“After tremendous pain and death and hardship, now is the time to concentrate on building their people up instead of trying to tear Israel down,” Trump said. “We don’t want that to happen again.”

During the speech, Trump also turned to Israeli President Isaac Herzog and suggested he pardon Netanyahu, who faces ongoing corruption charges from 2019 that he has long denied, according to CBS News. 

“I have an idea. Mr President, why don’t you give him a pardon? Give him a pardon,” Trump said, gesturing toward Netanyahu. 

Trump later praised longtime Republican donors Miriam and the late Sheldon Adelson, major pro-Israel supporters whom Trump credited with influencing key decisions throughout both terms of his presidency. 

“Miriam and Sheldon would come into the office,” he said. “They’d call me. I think they had more trips to the White House than anyone I can think of.” 

He said the couple was “very responsible for so much,” including his 2019 proclamation recognizing the Golan Heights as part of the State of Israel.

“I actually asked her once, ‘So Miriam, I know you love Israel. What do you love more, the United States or Israel?’ She refused to answer. That means that might be an Israel, I must say,” Trump said, drawing laughter from the audience.

Since 2015, the Adelsons have contributed millions to support Trump’s presidential campaigns and other Republican candidates. In 2018, Trump awarded Miriam Adelson the Presidential Medal of Freedom, citing her work in addiction research and medical philanthropy, Reuters reported. 

Concluding his Knesset address, Trump said, “I love Israel, I’m with you all the way. You will be bigger, better, stronger, and more loving than ever before. Thank you very much. God bless you, God bless the United States of America, and God bless the Middle East.”