Trump-Israel latest: President flies to peace summit in Egypt after hero’s welcome disrupted by protests in Knesset – UK Times

Donald Trump’s team were welcomed with rapturous applause at the Israeli Knesset on Monday.

Speaker Amir Ohana thanked the team for their work towards securing peace.

Ambassador Mike Huckabee was welcomed as “my dear friend and my absolute favourite rockstar”, and lawmakers chanted special envoy Steve Witkoff’s name.

This is the emotional moment the wife of an Israeli hostage called their daughters to tell them “daddy is back” after their father’s release from Gaza.

The last 20 living hostages being held were returned to Israel on Monday after more than two years in captivity.

Lishay Miran-Lavi, wife of Omri Miran, can be seen on a video call with her daughters Roni and Alma:

Donald Trump’s motorcade has arrived back at Ben Gurion Airport, where Air Force One will take him to Egypt to join the ‘peace summit’ of world leaders.

Trump is running around three hours behind schedule.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz called for continued U.S. engagement in resolving the war in Ukraine, expressing the hope that President Donald Trump would exercise the same influence as in the Middle East.

Speaking in Sharm El-Sheikh ahead of a summit with Trump and other global leaders to cement the Gaza truce, Merz said the meeting in Egypt showed that the end of war is possible if the international community stands together.

The UK is ready to assist in monitoring the ceasefire in Gaza and helping to disarm Hamas, Sir Keir Starmer said at the summit in Egypt on Monday.

The prime minister said Britain was ready to “play its full part” in ensuring that the current ceasefire results in a lasting peace.

He also offered the UK’s experience in Northern Ireland to help in the decommissioning of Hamas’ military capability, as set out in Donald Trump’s 20-point peace plan.

Families of hostages who died in Gaza were “shocked and dismayed” to learn that only four bodies of deceased captives will be returned on Monday.

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum said their return, from 28 bodies still held by Hamas, was a “blatant breach of the agreement” by the Palestinian group.

“We expect Israel’s government and the mediators to take immediate action to rectify this grave injustice,” they said.

“The families of the deceased hostages are enduring especially difficult days filled with deep sorrow. We will not abandon any hostage.”

Donald Trump concluded his rambling speech to the Knesset after a little more than an hour.

The president ended his remarks to another round of rapturous applause from lawmakers.

“We are going to have hope, harmony, opportunity and happiness here in the spiritual and geographic centre of the entire world,” he summed up.

“That’s what you are, Israel. America and all of the nations of the Middle East will soon be safer, stronger, greater and more prosperous than ever.”

Members of the Knesset rushed to the door to shake his hand on the way out.

Trump’s planned visit to Egypt is now hours behind schedule.

Donald Trump has called on Israeli president Isaac Herzog to give Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu a pardon.

The Israeli prime minister faces corruption charges, including for breach of trust, accepting bribes and fraud. The trial began in May 2020, and the defence begun its case on December 2024.

As Israeli members of the Knesset whooped and cheered, with many giving him a standing ovation, Mr Herzog stood up and looked around awkwardly.

Chants of ‘Bibi, Bibi’ rang out throughout the Knesset.