Daijiworld Media Network – Jerusalem

Jerusalem, Oct 13: US President Donald Trump will be accorded a hero’s welcome when he addresses Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, on Monday, as the fragile Gaza ceasefire he helped broker enters its fourth day. The truce has brought cautious optimism with the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners marking tentative progress in a long and bitter conflict.

The ceasefire follows two years of war triggered by the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, which killed around 1,200 people in Israel and saw 251 taken hostage. Israel’s retaliatory strikes devastated Gaza, where more than 67,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to health officials in the enclave.

“The war is over,” Trump declared aboard Air Force One en route to Israel. “I think it’s going to normalize,” he added, expressing hope for a new era of regional stability. The UN has confirmed an increase in humanitarian aid, with cooking gas entering Gaza for the first time since March along with expanded food and medical supplies.

Despite Trump’s optimism, observers say lasting peace remains distant amid massive destruction and deep trauma on both sides. A global summit hosted by Trump in Egypt’s Sharm el-Sheikh on Monday, joined by over 20 world leaders, is expected to shape the next steps for regional stability.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will attend the summit, while Israeli officials have opted out. Israeli spokesperson Shosh Bedrosian said 20 living hostages and 28 bodies would be returned, while 1,700 Palestinians detained since October 7 — including 22 minors and 360 militant bodies — will be released only after the safe return of Israeli captives.

On the ground, returning Palestinians described scenes of utter devastation in northern Gaza. “We are joyful to return, but bitter about the destruction,” said Rami Mohammad-Ali, 37, who walked miles from Deir Al Balah to Gaza City.

In Tel Aviv, crowds gathered at Hostages Square cheered Trump’s peace efforts but booed at the mention of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who faces mounting criticism at home.

Trump will become only the fourth US president to address the Knesset, after Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush. Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana, in his invitation, hailed Trump as “the greatest friend and ally of the Jewish nation in modern history.”

The ceasefire deal — mediated by the US, Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey — is seen as the first phase of Trump’s 20-point peace plan. The next stage involves forming an international “Board of Peace,” led by Trump and joined by former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, to oversee Gaza’s post-war governance.

However, tension remains over the release of Palestinian prisoners, as Hamas accuses Israel of reneging on prior agreements to free senior leaders. Defence Minister Israel Katz has warned that once hostages return, Israel will resume operations to destroy Hamas’ remaining tunnel networks.

Palestinian analyst Akram Attallah described Trump’s plan as one favouring Israel. “If they backtrack, they can blame Hamas, while Hamas, being the weaker party, loses all leverage once it hands over the hostages,” he said.

While Monday’s developments mark a rare pause in a long and violent conflict, the road to peace remains uncertain — balancing between diplomacy, distrust, and the haunting ruins of Gaza.