On October 13, 2025, a momentous shift in Middle East politics unfolded, spearheaded by U.S. President Donald Trump, who declared the "historic dawn of a new Middle East" and the end of the "long and painful nightmare" of the Gaza war. This day marked the culmination of a peace plan that saw the release of all remaining living Israeli hostages and nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, paving the way for extensive reconstruction efforts and discussions on Palestinian self-rule.

The day began with the emotional release of 20 living Israeli hostages, held captive by Hamas for 738 days since the October 7, 2023 attacks. These captives, including Matan Angrest, twin brothers Gali and Ziv Berman, Omri Miran, and others like Bar Kuperstein, whose paralyzed father miraculously relearned to walk for his return, were transferred to the Red Cross and then to Israeli forces, where they were reunited with jubilant families. Simultaneously, 1,968 Palestinian prisoners and detainees were released from Israeli prisons, with joyous celebrations erupting in the occupied West Bank and Gaza.

Amidst these developments, President Trump arrived in Israel, where he addressed the Knesset, the Israeli parliament, in a speech that garnered 22 standing ovations. Wearing red "Trump The Peace President" caps, many Israeli MPs celebrated his arrival. In his address, Trump asserted that Israel had achieved "all that it can by force of arms" and called for a new age of peace and prosperity. He praised Arab and Muslim nations for their assistance in reaching the ceasefire agreement. During his speech, Trump also controversially urged Israeli President Isaac Herzog to pardon Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who faces corruption charges. The address was briefly interrupted by hecklers, members Ayman Odeh and Ofer Cassif, who were removed after holding signs calling for the recognition of Palestine, prompting Trump to remark on the security's efficiency. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu hailed Trump as the "greatest friend that the State of Israel has ever had in the White House," crediting him for his pivotal 20-point peace plan for Gaza.

Following his visit to Israel, Trump flew to Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, to co-chair a summit with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, dedicated to endorsing the peace plan, rebuilding Gaza, and establishing a limited form of Palestinian self-rule. More than 20 world leaders attended, including French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim ibn Hamad Al Thani. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas also attended, despite initial reports of potential boycotts if Netanyahu were present. Trump, Sisi, Erdogan, and Sheikh Tamim signed a "comprehensive document" setting out responsibilities for ensuring peace, though its contents were not publicly disclosed.

Trump announced that "Phase Two" of his Gaza plan, focusing on reconstruction, was already underway. He described Gaza as "debris times 10," with estimated reconstruction costs exceeding $30 billion, and predicted that "Gaza will be demobilised, Hamas will be disarmed, and Israel’s security will no longer be threatened." He also indicated intentions to pressure Arab states to sign the Abraham Accords and even extended an olive branch for potential peace with Iran, stating he believed they were "tired" of conflict.

Despite the celebratory atmosphere, challenges remained. Hamas, while willing not to be part of Gaza's new technocratic government, insisted it would only disarm under certain conditions to a Palestinian-led force. Israel, in turn, stated it would not withdraw the Israel Defense Forces from Gaza while tunnels and weapons remained under Hamas control. Furthermore, Hamas was accused of a "failure of commitments" for only returning four bodies out of 28 deceased Israeli hostages. European diplomats warned that plans for an international stabilization force, potentially with a UN mandate and troops from Muslim countries like Indonesia and Turkey, needed acceleration. A separate Palestinian National Authority civilian police force, trained in Egypt and Jordan, also needed rapid deployment to prevent conflicts with a resurgent Hamas. French President Macron emphasized the importance of connecting Gaza and the West Bank and continuing efforts towards a formal two-state solution.

The scale of the devastation in Gaza was highlighted, with an estimated 78 percent of its 250,000 buildings destroyed or damaged, generating 61 million tonnes of debris. The UK foreign ministry quietly convened a three-day conference in England to plan and coordinate post-war Gaza's Palestinian-led reconstruction, acknowledging it would "take years and cost billions." Trump's leadership garnered considerable attention, with some comparing him to Cyrus the Great, the ancient Persian king who liberated Jews from Babylonian captivity. Billboards in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem proclaimed "Cyrus the Great is alive!" and prominent commentators echoed this sentiment, crediting Trump with unprecedented achievements for Israel's security and future.