Trump arrives in Israel to tout a ceasefire he believes could foster lasting Middle East peace

President Donald Trump arrived in Israel on Monday to celebrate the U.S.-brokered ceasefire and hostage deal between Israel and Hamas, an agreement that he declared had effectively ended the war and opened the door to building a durable peace in the Middle East.

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PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP walks over to speak with reporters before boarding Air Force One, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025, at Joint Base Andrews, Md., as he heads to the Middle East. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

(AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

The moment remains fragile, with Israel and Hamas still in the early stages of implementing the first phase of the plan, which included the release of Israeli hostages that have been held since the Oct. 7, 2023, attack by Hamas-led militants.

With families overjoyed at the impending reunions and Palestinians eager for a surge of humanitarian assistance, Trump thinks there is a narrow window to reshape the region and reset long-fraught relations between Israel and its Arab neighbors.

"The war is over, OK?" Trump told reporters traveling with him aboard Air Force One.

"I think people are tired of it," he said, emphasizing that he believed the ceasefire would hold because of that.