President Trump lands in Israel as Hamas frees remaining hostages
The United States President Donald Trump landed at the Ben Gurion International Airport in Israel on Monday morning, where he was received by the Israeli President Isaac Herzog and the Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The last time the US presidential plane Air Force One was seen on the skies of Israel was shortly after the 2023 October 7 attack, where over 1,200 Israelis were slaughtered by Hamas terrorists, and the former US President Joe Biden paid Israel a solidarity visit.
Trump’s visit to Israel is coinciding with the deadline given to Hamas based on the peace deal to release the remaining 20 living hostages as well as the bodies of 28 others who have passed.
The development is coming in the wake of the implementation of the first phase of Trump’s 20-point peace plan which both Israel and Hamas have agreed to.
Israel has already withdrawn its forces from Gaza to an agreed line, which gives Israel control of about fifty percent of Gaza while Hamas is reported to have released the remaining Israeli hostages into the custody of the Red Cross who will then transfer them to Israel.
A total of 48 hostages, 20 of whom are believed to be alive, are expected to be transferred today as part of the peace deal.
Israel will also release some jailed Palestinians who are also now set to be freed to the West Bank.
Trump as well as critics consider the 20-point peace plan as not just for peace between Israel and Gaza but for the entire Middle East, as many have applauded Donald Trump’s courage to restore peace in the region.
In this visit to Israel, the US President is expected to address the Knesset, the Israeli parliament.
He will further take a trip to Egypt, where a summit among 20 Heads of State will take place.
The President of Egypt Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Freidrich Merz, and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, among others, are expected to join President Trump at the summit.
