U.S. President Donald Trump arrived in Israel on Monday for a series of high-level meetings aimed at consolidating peace efforts following the recent ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
Trump was received at Ben Gurion International Airport by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shortly after seven hostages released by Hamas were handed over to the Israeli army through the Red Cross.
The militant group announced that all 20 remaining living hostages would be released later on Monday in exchange for more than 1,900 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One en route to Israel, Trump declared that the war between Israel and Hamas “is over.”
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During his visit, Trump is scheduled to meet families of the released and remaining hostages, as well as address members of the Knesset. He will later travel to Egypt to co-chair a summit in Sharm el-Sheikh with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sissi.
According to the Egyptian presidency, the summit seeks to consolidate the fragile ceasefire and advance long-term peace and stability in the Middle East.
World leaders expected to attend include French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
