Trump contrasts sun rising on Holy Land with two years of conflict
President Donald Trump delivered an address to Israel’s Knesset in Jerusalem, declaring a transition from years of conflict to a new era of peace in the region. He said: “The skies are calm, the guns are silent, the sirens are still, and the sun rises on a Holy Land that is finally at peace.” That statement drew a stark contrast with what he called “the last two years of brutal fighting” between the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Hamas.
Trump’s remarks came on the same day that Hamas completed the release of all surviving Israeli hostages under a U.S.-brokered ceasefire deal. In exchange, Israel freed nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. He portrayed the agreement as a turning point, calling it a “historic dawn of a new Middle East.” He praised the efforts behind the negotiation and emphasized the need to transform the military gains into lasting stability and reconciliation in the region.
In his speech, Trump commended Israeli leadership for its resolve, acknowledged the pain and losses of the past conflict, and appealed for unity and healing. He called for cooperation across the region and urged that the moment not be wasted—that peace must now be built, not simply declared. He also plans to co-lead a peace summit in Egypt to solidify the deal and set frameworks for governance and security in Gaza and the wider region.
Observers note that while the ceasefire and hostage release are significant milestones, the deeper challenges remain: disarming Hamas, managing Gaza’s reconstruction, establishing governance, and preventing future conflict. Whether Trump’s poetic imagery of peace will translate into a durable reality depends on how the parties execute the agreement in the weeks and months ahead.
