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President Donald Trump was heckled by two left-wing MPs during his speech to the Israeli parliament after declaring “the historic dawn of a new Middle East”.
Footage showed Ayman Odeh and Ofer Cassif being escorted out by security guards after they shouted in Hebrew at Trump, who was addressing parliament hours after the release of all 20 hostages.
The Times of Israel reported that the pair were holding signs calling for the recognition of a Palestinian state.
Wild celebrations erupted in Tel Aviv as the US president arrived to a hero’s welcome, with Knesset speaker Amir Ohana declaring Trump a “giant” of Jewish history.
Addressing the Israeli parliament, Trump said: “After so many years of unceasing war and endless danger, today, the skies are calm, the guns are silent, the sirens are still, and the sun rises on a Holy Land that is finally at peace.
Trump will greet the families of the hostages in Jerusalem before flying to a “peace summit” in Egypt's Sharm-el Sheikh, where his ceasefire deal will be signed.
What challenges lie ahead for peace negotiations?
A summit in Egypt will kick off what is likely to be a protracted round of negotiations to fulfill the 20-point ceasefire plan agreed by Israel and Hamas.
The negotiations will have to tackle the issues of disarming Hamas, creating a post-war government for Gaza and the extent of Israel's withdrawal from the territory. Trump's plan also stipulates that regional and international partners will work to develop the core of a new Palestinian security force.
Another major issue is raising funds for rebuilding Gaza. The World Bank, and Egypt's postwar plan, estimate reconstruction and recovery needs in Gaza at $53 billion. Egypt plans to host a future reconstruction conference.
Before the truce was agreed on, Israel and Hamas — staunch enemies who have little trust in each other and a number of failed negotiations behind them — held negotiations in Doha, Qatar's capital, through indirect talks, with Egypt and Qatar as meditators.
Iran, a main backer of Hamas, is also not attending the summit in Egypt as the Islamic Republic finds itself at one of its weakest moments since its 1979 revolution. Iranian officials portrayed the ceasefire deal as a victory for Hamas.
The deal however, underlined Iran's waning influence in the region and revived concerns over possible renewed conflict with Israel as it still struggles to recover from the 12-day war in June.
Alex Croft13 October 2025 13:02
Pictured: Moment MPs escorted from Israeli parliament after protest
Alex Croft13 October 2025 12:45
Trump says 'long nightmare' finally over for Israelis and Palestinians
Trump has told Israeli parliamentarians that a "long nightmare" was finally over for Israelis and Palestinians alike after the first phase of a Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal was agreed between Israel and Hamas.
"The forces of chaos that have plagued the region are totally defeated," he said in a speech before Israel's parliament.
“We’ve achieved the most challenging breakthrough of them all, the most challenging breakthrough maybe ever,” he said.
The US president then described the war in the Middle East as the “grandaddy of them all”, declaring that it is “finally over”.
Alex Croft13 October 2025 12:42
In pictures: Palestinians and Israelis reunite with loved ones
Alex Croft13 October 2025 12:34
Israeli MPs stage pro-Palestine protest during Trump speech
Two MPs in the Israeli Knesset has appeared to stage a short protest during Donald Trump’s speech in the Israeli Knesset.
Shouting erupted in the hall before the MPs was escorted out.
Knesset members Ayman Odeh and Ofer Cassif were removed from the hall after raising a sign reading "genocide” during Trump’s speech, according to the Clash Report.
Samuel Sokol, a political reporter for The Times of Israel, said they were holding signs calling to “recognise Palestine”.
Mr Odeh and Mr Cassif are part of the left-wing Haddash coalition, which has been highly critical of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.
Alex Croft13 October 2025 12:20
Trump declares 'historic dawn of a new Middle East'
Donald Trump has declared a “historic dawn of a new Middle East” in an address to the Israeli Knesset.
“After so many years of unceasing war and endless danger, today, the skies are calm, the guns are silent, the sirens are still, and the sun rises on a Holy Land that is finally at peace,” he said.
“This is the historic dawn of a new Middle East.
“It is an incredible triumph for Israel and the world to have all of these nations working together as partners in peace. Generations from now, this will be remembered as the moment that everything began to change.”
Alex Croft13 October 2025 12:11
Analysis | Israel’s Knesset has declared Trump the Middle East’s peacemaker-in-chief – but it’s not quite so simple
World leaders, diplomatic insiders, and much of the media are celebrating a ceasefire in Gaza calling it a “peace deal” and endorsing President Donald Trump’s now unsuccessful campaign for a Nobel Peace Prize.
After the release of all the living Israeli hostages by Hamas, Benjamin Netanyahu and the Knesset cheered the arrival of the US president in Israel, heaping platitude after platitude on him, claiming that his election meant that “overnight, everything changed”.
US secretary of state Marc Rubio insisted the turning point came when Trump convened meetings with Arab and Muslim leaders on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in September.
Our world affairs editor Sam Kiley writes:
Alex Croft13 October 2025 12:07
UN chief says he is 'profoundly relieved'
UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres says he is "profoundly relieved" that the Israeli hostages in Gaza have regained their freedom and will be reunited with their families after the "immense suffering" they have endured.
Mr Guterres reiterated his call for the release of the remains of the deceased hostages. The statement was issued from Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, where world leaders were gathering to throw their weight behind the Gaza ceasefire deal.
"I urge all parties to build on this momentum and to honour their commitments under the ceasefire to end the nightmare in Gaza," he said.
"The United Nations is working to support all efforts to end the conflict in Gaza and alleviate the suffering of civilians."
Alex Croft13 October 2025 11:57
Starmer meets Palestinian president Abbas in Egypt
Alex Croft13 October 2025 11:56
'I'm committed to this peace', says Netanyahu
Netanyahu is still addressing the Israeli Knesset. He has thanked the US for its “bold decision” during the 12-day conflict with Iran.
He said the US president’s peace proposal was a "pivotal" step towards peace, and added: "I'm committed to this peace, you are committed to this peace, and together we will achieve this peace."
After Trump became president in January “everything changed overnight”, he added.
“Thanks to your unequivocal backing of Israel, we secured a second hostage deal within weeks of your election.
“In the months that followed, we worked closely together to forge a path to bring the remaining hostages home, end the war in a way that ensures the disarming of Hamas, the demilitarisation of Gaza, and that Gaza would never again pose a threat to Israel,” Netanyahu added.
Alex Croft13 October 2025 11:46
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English (US) ·