Trump Hails ‘a New Beginning’ in Message to Israel in Knesset Guestbook

President Donald Trump hailed “a new beginning” in a written message as he signed the Israeli parliamentary guestbook ahead of his address to lawmakers.

“This is my great honor. A great and beautiful day, a new beginning,” the president wrote in bold black ink, beside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister’s wife Sara, and Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana and his partner.

The remarks came as Israel confirmed that Hamas had released all 20 living Israeli hostages from Gaza on Monday morning into the custody of the Red Cross, who transferred them to Israel.

The move ends a 737-day ordeal after the president’s Gaza peace deal that secured their freedom after two years of war between Israel and Hamas.

The release comes as part of a delicate exchange under which Israel will release 2,000 Palestinian prisoners in return for the remains of 28 hostages who did not survive captivity. Israeli officials cautioned that not all remains are expected to be repatriated immediately.

Trump’s arrival in Israel came as the handover began. He is set to meet with hostage families before addressing the Knesset and then travel to Egypt for a regional peace summit aimed at cementing the fragile ceasefire.