TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — U.S. President Donald Trump touched down in Israel Monday to mark a U.S.-brokered ceasefire as Hamas begins releasing Israeli hostages after two years of war.
Air Force One touched down at Ben Gurion International Airport at 9:42 a.m. after flying over Tel Aviv's Hostage Square, where tens of thousands of people had gathered, on its way to boarding.
The flyover occurred just after the first seven hostages arrived in Israel from the Gaza Strip.
More than 1,900 Palestinian prisoners will also be released.
THIS IS BREAKING NEWS. AP's earlier story appears below.
ABOARD Air Force One (AP) — President Donald Trump is set to touch down in Israel on Monday to celebrate a U.S.-brokered ceasefire and hostage agreement between Israel and Hamas, an agreement he said effectively ended the war and opened the door to lasting peace in the Middle East.
The moment remains fragile as Israel and Hamas are still in the early stages of the first phase of the plan, which included the release of Israeli hostages held after an attack by Hamas-led militants on October 7, 2023.
With families overjoyed at the impending reunification and Palestinians eager for more humanitarian aid, Trump believes there is a narrow window to reshape the region and reset stagnate relations between Israel and its Arab neighbors.
“The war is over, OK?” Trump told reporters traveling with him on Air Force One.
“I think people are tired of this,” he said, stressing that he believes this will keep the ceasefire going.
The Republican president said the chance for peace came from his administration's support for Israel's destruction of Iranian proxies, including Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
The White House said the momentum is also building as Arab and Muslim states show renewed focus on resolving the broader, decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict and, in some cases, deepening relations with the United States.
In February, Trump predicted that Gaza could be transformed into what he called the “Riviera of the Middle East.” But on Sunday aboard Air Force One, he was more cautious.
“I don’t know anything about Riviera yet,” Trump said. “It's blown up. It's like a demolition site.” But he said he hopes to visit the area one day. “I would like to at least stand firm on this,” he said.
The first phase of the ceasefire agreement calls for the release of the last 48 hostages held by Hamas; the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel; increasing humanitarian aid to Gaza; and a partial withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza's main cities.
Trump will first visit Israel to meet with the families of the hostages and address the Knesset, or parliament. The last time such an honor was given to President George W. Bush was in 2008.
The president next stops in Egypt, where he and Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi will hold a summit in Sharm el-Sheikh with leaders from more than 20 countries on peace in the Gaza Strip and the wider Middle East.
Both Israel and Egypt announced that Trump would receive their countries' highest civilian honors.
The truce remains fragile and it is unclear whether the sides have reached any agreement on the post-war governance of Gaza, the restoration of the territory and Israel's demand for the disarmament of Hamas. Negotiations on these issues could fail, and Israel has hinted it could resume military operations if its demands are not met.
Much of the Gaza Strip has been reduced to rubble, and the territory's estimated 2 million residents continue to struggle in desperate conditions. Under the agreement, Israel agreed to reopen five border crossings, which will help ease the flow of food and other goods into the Gaza Strip, where parts are facing famine.
About 200 US military personnel will help maintain and monitor the ceasefire agreement as part of a team that includes partner countries, non-governmental organizations and private sector players.
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Megeryan reported from Washington. Associated Press writer Will Weissert contributed to this report from Washington.
