On October 13, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump declared the war in the Middle East over during a historic visit to Tel Aviv, marking the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas for over two years. Arriving at Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, Trump announced that Hamas would disarm, responding “yes” when asked if the conflict had ended.
Speaking to lawmakers amid a trumpet fanfare and standing ovation, Trump described the resolution as the end of a “long and painful nightmare” for Israelis and Palestinians. He emphasized two vows: “Never forget, and never again.” Highlighting a shift toward peace, Trump called the ceasefire a “very exciting time for Israel and the Middle East,” urging a focus on prosperity over military victories.
Trump advocated for a peace deal with Iran, Hamas’s primary backer, stating, “The hand of friendship and cooperation is always open, even to Iran, whose regime has inflicted so much death.” He expressed optimism, saying, “They want to make a deal. We are ready when you are.”
The conflict, ignited by Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack that killed 1,200 and took hundreds hostage, prompted an Israeli response that left over 67,000 Palestinians dead, including thousands of civilians, and devastated Gaza, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. Trump encouraged Israel to prioritize rebuilding, noting, “You’ve won, and now you can build something you never thought possible.” He stressed that Gazans’ focus should shift to restoring stability, safety, dignity, and economic growth, with U.S. support pledged for these efforts.
Trump praised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, military leaders, and Arab nations for brokering the ceasefire, alongside U.S. officials like Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Jared Kushner, and Pete Hegseth. On Monday, 20 Israeli hostages and 28 additional captives—26 confirmed dead and two with uncertain status—were set to be released, with Israel releasing nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners in exchange.
Following his Knesset address and meetings with hostage families, Trump was scheduled to attend a summit in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, with 20 world leaders to finalize the Gaza peace agreement. The first phase of the Trump-brokered deal has been praised as a humanitarian and geopolitical milestone, though economic impacts are expected to be limited. Berenberg Bank’s chief economist, Holger Schmieding, noted, “The impact on the global economy and markets should remain very limited, though. If the Houthis stop disrupting shipping through the Red Sea, global transport costs may fall slightly. If tensions in the Middle East subside much further, the global impact could be more pronounced in the long run – but that remains a very big if.”
