Trump urges Israel to pursue peace, announces Gaza rebuilding plan during Israel visit

US President pledges to rebuild Gaza, calls for lasting peace in Middle East

October 13, 2025

Trump urges Israel to ‘turn from war to peace’ as 20 hostages freed in Hamas deal

US President Donald Trump on Monday called on Israel to shift its focus from the battlefield to diplomacy, urging both sides to work toward lasting peace in the Middle East.

Addressing the Israeli Parliament (Knesset), Trump said Israel had “no more to achieve on the battlefield” and pledged US support for the reconstruction of Gaza, which has suffered extensive devastation during the conflict.

“The time has come to turn from war to peace,” Trump said, appealing to Palestinians to “turn forever from the path of terror and violence.”

The remarks came as 20 Israeli hostages were released by Hamas on Monday, in what is being described as a major step toward consolidating the fragile ceasefire that followed months of conflict. The hostages were handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) under a deal brokered with US involvement.

In exchange, Israel is expected to release over 1,900 Palestinian prisoners, including about 250 individuals convicted in attacks that killed or injured Israelis, along with others detained on lesser charges.

Trump, who played a central role in mediating the ceasefire, arrived in Israel earlier on Monday for a brief but symbolic visit. The White House said he would meet families of the freed hostages before traveling to Egypt for a regional peace summit involving Middle Eastern and international leaders.

According to the Associated Press, Trump is scheduled to return to Washington, D.C., on Tuesday night following the summit.

The hostages’ release marks the most significant diplomatic breakthrough since the war began on October 7, 2023, with a surprise attack on Israel by Hamas-led militants.

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