Trump addresses Knesset after historic peace deal
BREAKING NEWS: President Donald Trump addressed the Knesset, the Israeli parliament, on Monday as the first steps of the U.S.-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas continue to come into effect.
The final 20 remaining living hostages taken by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023, were returned to Israel on Monday as part of an exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, Israeli officials said.
Some Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, where Israel has for two years waged a brutal and systematic war against Hamas, are returning home and beginning to reckon with the destruction caused by the conflict.
The hostage families were shocked and dismayed to learn that only 4 bodies of deceased hostages will be returned today, out of 28 held by Hamas,” the Hostage Families Forum said in a statement. “This represents a blatant breach of the agreement by Hamas.”
“We expect Israel’s government and the mediators to take immediate action,” the statement said. “The mediators must enforce the agreement’s terms and ensure Hamas pays a price for this violation.”
An Israel Defense Forces spokesperson said Monday, “We will not rest until the mission is complete. We are prepared for the return of all the fallen hostages, and expect Hamas to abide by the terms of the agreement.”
Trump has not joined the majority of the international community in presently recognizing a state of Palestine.
The protest against Trump’s speech came as the president was marking the return to Israel of the last living hostages held by Hamas since they were kidnapped during the Oct. 7, 2023, attack by Hamas.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been invited by U.S. President Donald Trump to attend today’s conference in Egypt.The Prime Minister thanked President Trump for the invitation but said that he will be unable to attend due to time constraints ahead of the start of the holiday,” Netanyahu’s office said in a statement.
“The Prime Minister thanked President Trump for his efforts to expand the circle of peace – peace through strength.”
