Trump arrives in Israel to meet leaders and hostage families

Reuters
Reuters

U.S. President Donald Trump has landed in Israel for the first time since his previous term, receiving a warm welcome from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog.

President Trump arrived at Ben Gurion Airport on Monday morning, where he was greeted on the tarmac by Israel’s top leadership, including President Isaac Herzog and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as well as their spouses, Michal Herzog and Sara Netanyahu.

The visit comes hours after the release of seven Israeli hostages from Gaza under a U.S.-brokered ceasefire deal. Trump is expected to meet families of the hostages later on Monday before addressing the Israeli parliament.

The president’s trip marks his first to Israel since returning to office. He is also scheduled to travel to Egypt later in the day, where he will co-chair a summit on Gaza’s future alongside Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.

World leaders from more than 20 nations, including UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron, are attending the summit in Sharm el-Sheikh. The UK has pledged £20 million (about $26 million) in new aid for Gaza ahead of the talks.

A large display was erected across a Tel Aviv beach to welcome the hostages home and thank Trump for his role in the ceasefire deal. The message, visible from the air, includes the words “thank you” and “home” next to a silhouette of Trump’s profile.

Prime Minister Netanyahu has called the hostage release a turning point, saying it marks the beginning of “a new era” for Israel.

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