In One Day, Trump Presides Over Gaza Peace Deal, Hostage Release. World Leaders Line Up to Shake His Hand

Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt - October 13, 2025--In a whirlwind day of diplomacy that spanned two nations and bridged decades of enmity, U.S. President Donald Trump oversaw the finalization of a landmark Gaza peace agreement, hailed as the end of a two-year war that claimed over 67,000 lives.

The deal, brokered under Trump's 20-point plan unveiled last month, culminated in the release of the last 20 living Israeli hostages held by Hamas since the October 7, 2023, attacks, alongside the freeing of nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees by Israel. Trump declared the conflict "over," proclaiming a "historic dawn" for the Middle East during addresses in Israel and a summit in Egypt.

The day's events unfolded with precision, beginning in the early hours with Trump's arrival in Tel Aviv aboard Air Force One at approximately 2:20 a.m. local time (7:20 p.m. ET Sunday).

Stepping onto the tarmac at Ben Gurion Airport amid a backdrop of Israeli flags and cheering crowds, the president was greeted by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and a delegation including former hostages and their families. "The war is over," Trump told reporters before boarding his motorcade, praising Netanyahu for his role in the negotiations.

By 3:45 a.m., Trump convened a private meeting at the Knesset in Jerusalem with families of the hostages, many of whom had endured 730 days of anguish. Among those present was Noa Argamani, a former hostage rescued in a 2024 Israeli operation and now a prominent advocate for the cause, who had previously addressed the United Nations Security Council.

The White House released photos of the emotional gathering, where Trump listened intently to stories of loss and hope. "This is my great honor-a great and beautiful day. A new beginning," he wrote in the Knesset guest book.

As the meeting concluded, news broke of the hostages' release. In two separate groups, Hamas transferred the 20 captives-seven in the morning and 13 later-to the International Committee of the Red Cross inside Gaza. Israeli military officials confirmed the group was en route to Israeli territory for medical evaluations and reunions. In Tel Aviv's Hostage Square, thousands erupted in cheers, hugs, and tears as live broadcasts showed the freed individuals, including former hostage Guy Gilboa-Dalal waving to supporters outside Beilinson Hospital.

Concurrently, Israel began releasing Palestinian prisoners, starting with 250 long-term inmates and 1,700 detainees captured during the conflict. Buses arrived at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis and other sites in Gaza and the West Bank, where relatives gathered amid scenes of jubilation and relief. One freed prisoner embraced a young boy upon arrival in Ramallah, symbolizing the human stakes of the exchange.

At 5 a.m., Trump addressed a joint session of the Knesset in an hour-long speech that drew standing ovations. Flanked by Netanyahu and Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana, he recounted the "long and painful nightmare" ending for both Israelis and Palestinians.

"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 said, invoking his first-term Abraham Accords as a foundation for the current breakthrough. He joked about his tight schedule, noting his impending flight to Egypt: "I'll be quite late-they might not be there by the time I get there." Israeli far-right minister Itamar Ben-Gvir voiced dissent, threatening to topple the government unless Hamas is fully dismantled, but the chamber's applause underscored broad support.

With the Israeli leg complete, Air Force One lifted off at around 7 a.m., bound for Sharm el-Sheikh on Egypt's Sinai Peninsula. Trump arrived shortly before noon local time, descending a red carpet lined with palm trees and mountain vistas to a warm welcome from Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, co-host of the summit.

More than 20 world leaders convened at a luxury resort for the Sharm el-Sheikh Peace Summit, including Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and representatives from Jordan, the UAE, and European nations. Notably absent was Netanyahu, who cited upcoming Jewish holidays-Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah-as the reason, despite initial Egyptian announcements suggesting his attendance. Hamas was also unrepresented, highlighting lingering tensions over Gaza's post-war governance.

The summit's centerpiece was a signing ceremony in a grand conference hall, where Trump, el-Sisi, Erdogan, and Al Thani affixed their signatures to the "Trump Peace Agreement"-a declaration inaugurating the ceasefire and outlining Gaza's reconstruction. Holding up the document for cameras, Trump quipped, "It took 3,000 years to get to this point. Can you believe it? And it's going to hold up, too." Earlier handshakes among the leaders-captured in widely circulated photographs-symbolized unity: Trump clasped hands firmly with el-Sisi during bilateral talks on aid convoys, then with Erdogan in a brief sidebar on regional security, and finally with Al Thani amid discussions of Qatar's mediation role. A family photo of the group, beaming against a backdrop of the Red Sea, went viral, with el-Sisi praising Trump as a "colossus" for averting wider conflict.

In his summit remarks, Trump emphasized humanitarian momentum: Hundreds of aid trucks were already rolling into Gaza with food, medicine, and supplies, funded in part by Gulf states. He announced an expanded "Board of Peace"-overseen by himself and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair-to govern Gaza's rebuilding, ensuring "no one will be forced to leave" while encouraging those who wish to depart the freedom to return. Educational facilities for 700,000 children and economic incentives were highlighted, with Trump vowing U.S. security guarantees alongside "very wealthy countries." Yet, challenges loomed: The whereabouts of 28 deceased hostages' bodies remained unresolved, and el-Sisi stressed that only a Palestinian state could ensure lasting stability.

By late afternoon, as displaced Gazans began trekking north to ruined homes under Israeli military withdrawal, Trump fielded questions from reporters on his flight back to Washington. On the durability of the peace, he reflected candidly: "I can't answer it. I can't tell you what's gonna happen, but I'll be out there fighting for whoever it may be." Accompanying him were key aides, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and son-in-law Jared Kushner, credited with tireless shuttle diplomacy.

The deal drew bipartisan acclaim in the U.S., with former Presidents Joe Biden and Bill Clinton commending Trump's team for "getting it over the finish line," and even Elon Musk calling it an "impressive accomplishment." As the sun set over the Red Sea, the region exhaled-for now. With aid flowing and guns silent, October 13, 2025, etched itself into history as a fragile pivot from war to wary hope.