Donald Trump Hails Gaza Peace Deal as “Historic Turning Point” During Middle East Visit
In what he described as one of the most important days in modern history, US President Donald Trump made a one-day visit to the Middle East as a new Gaza peace agreement came into effect — marking a rare and fragile pause after two years of devastating war between Israel and Hamas.
Onboard Air Force One returning from Tel Aviv in the early hours of Tuesday, Trump called it “a historic day, to put it mildly,” suggesting that under his leadership, the region had reached “everlasting peace.”
The trip, complete with elaborate pageantry and high symbolism, was less about negotiating the fine print of peace and more about celebrating what Trump cast as a monumental personal achievement — “the biggest turning point in three thousand years,” as he put it.
A Victory Lap Over the Gaza Ceasefire
Trump’s visit came just days after intensive diplomatic talks in Doha, which produced an agreement hailed by supporters as a breakthrough moment.
Under the deal, major combat operations in Gaza have ceased, hostages held by Hamas were released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, and Israeli forces began a partial withdrawal from northern Gaza — allowing displaced Palestinians to return to the ruins of their homes.
However, analysts and diplomats caution that the truce represents a temporary waypoint, not a final resolution. The deep-rooted grievances, competing national aspirations, and fragile trust that have defined the Israeli-Palestinian conflict for over a century remain unresolved.
Air Force One Flyover Sets the Tone
As Air Force One approached Tel Aviv, the presidential jet made a low sweep over the city’s beaches. Below, a massive sand installation read “Thank You, Trump” — featuring the Israeli flag and the US president’s profile.
It was a carefully choreographed moment, setting the tone for what many saw as a triumphal tour rather than a diplomatic mission.
The mood aboard the plane was buoyant. Members of the White House press corps, including myself, were ushered forward as Trump appeared in the doorway, grinning broadly. “Every country is dancing in the streets,” he said repeatedly, emphasizing that peace had finally arrived.
When asked if the ceasefire would hold, Trump was confident: “There are a lot of reasons why it’s going to last,” he said. Yet he sidestepped questions about Gaza’s future, particularly regarding who would govern and rebuild the war-torn enclave.
Trump’s Vision: An “International Stabilization Force”
One of the key elements of Trump’s 20-point peace plan is the proposed International Stabilization Force (ISF) — a multinational coalition meant to maintain order and oversee reconstruction in Gaza.
“It’s going to be a big, strong force,” Trump told reporters. “But it’ll barely have to be used because people are going to behave — everybody knows their place now.”
Critics argue that such a force would be difficult to implement without clear commitments from regional powers or the United Nations. For now, the ISF remains an ambitious but uncertain idea, reflecting Trump’s reliance on bold declarations over complex diplomacy.
A Hero’s Welcome in Israel
Upon landing in Tel Aviv, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu greeted Trump with full ceremonial honors — a red carpet, military band, and cheering crowds lining the highway to Jerusalem.
At Hostages Square in central Tel Aviv, thousands watched a live broadcast of both Trump’s arrival and the emotional reunions of Israeli hostages freed by Hamas. The moment captured a split-screen reality: celebration in Israel, relief and exhaustion in Gaza.
Inside the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, Trump was met with roaring applause and chants of “Thank you, Trump!” Lawmakers donned red caps reading “The President of Peace” as he declared, “This is the dawn of a new Middle East.”
He praised Israel’s resilience, insisted that “the war is over,” and claimed that Israel had “won all it could by force of arms.” But his speech soon veered into domestic politics — attacking his rivals in Washington and even calling on Israel’s President Isaac Herzog to pardon Netanyahu, who faces corruption charges. “Cigars and champagne — who the hell cares about that?” Trump quipped, prompting laughter and applause.
From Israel to Egypt: The Celebration Continues
After less than seven hours on the ground in Israel, the presidential motorcade sped back to Ben Gurion Airport, where Trump boarded Air Force One for Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt — the site of the mediated peace talks that paved the way for the Gaza deal.
As the plane descended, Egyptian F-16 fighter jets escorted it — a show of military honor that Trump relished.
At the peace summit venue, a massive banner behind the podium read “PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST.” World leaders filed in, standing shoulder to shoulder behind Trump as he proclaimed that the day marked “the culmination of 3,000 years of struggle.”
Trump credited his “friends in the Gulf,” including Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, for supporting the deal. “We’ve built new partnerships, new trust — and this is just the beginning,” he said.
Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, who hosted the summit, reaffirmed that the ultimate goal remains a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians — a phrase notably absent from Trump’s own remarks.
Shifting Alliances and Global Reactions
Trump’s tone reflected a significant shift in his regional alliances. Once a staunch backer of Netanyahu, Trump has grown increasingly critical of Israel’s leadership, frustrated by what he calls its “political indecision.” In recent months, he has drawn closer to Gulf allies such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE, praising their “stability, wealth, and power.”
Meanwhile, European nations have sought to distance themselves from Israel’s wartime tactics, focusing instead on humanitarian aid and post-war reconstruction — a stance that Trump has mocked as “weak diplomacy.”
While Trump has framed the Gaza deal as the defining achievement of his foreign policy, skeptics warn that the region remains on edge. Sporadic clashes persist, and both Hamas and Israeli hardliners have voiced dissatisfaction with the terms of the agreement.
A Fragile Truce or a Lasting Legacy?
By the end of the day, Trump had presided over a highly choreographed display of diplomacy, complete with parades, flyovers, and grand speeches. But beyond the spectacle, many questions linger: Can this ceasefire endure? Who will govern Gaza? And will the promised reconstruction ever begin?
For now, the Gaza deal stands as a fragile truce, not a final peace. Trump, however, insists it is the start of something permanent. “We’ve done what no one else could do,” he said before boarding Air Force One back to Washington. “Peace — real peace — has finally come to the Middle East.”
Yet as history has often shown, declaring peace is far easier than keeping it.