Trump hails 'tremendous day for Middle East' as leaders sign Gaza declaration

US President Donald Trump hailed a "tremendous day for the Middle East" as he and regional leaders signed a declaration Monday meant to cement a ceasefire in Gaza, hours after Israel and Hamas exchanged hostages and prisoners.

Trump made a lightning visit to Israel, where he lauded Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in an address to parliament, before flying to Egypt for a Gaza summit where he and the leaders of Egypt, Qatar and Turkey signed the declaration as guarantors to the Gaza deal.

"This is a tremendous day for the world, it's a tremendous day for the Middle East," Trump said as more than two dozen world leaders sat down to talk in the resort of Sharm el-Sheikh.

"The document is going to spell out rules and regulations and lots of other things," Trump said before signing, repeating twice that "it's going to hold up."

As part of Trump's plan to end the Gaza war, Hamas on Monday freed the last 20 surviving hostages it held after two years of captivity in Gaza.

In exchange, Israel released 1,968 mostly Palestinian prisoners held in its jails, its prison service said.

"From October 7 until this week, Israel has been a nation at war, enduring burdens that only a proud and faithful people could withstand," Trump told lawmakers during an address to Israel's parliament, where he received a lengthy standing ovation upon his arrival.

"For so many families across this land, it has been years since you've known a single day of true peace," he continued.

"Not only for Israelis, but also for Palestinians and for many others, the long and painful nightmare is finally over."

In Tel Aviv, a huge crowd that had gathered to support hostage families erupted in joy, tears and song as news broke of the first releases, though the pain at the loss of those who had not survived was palpable.

In the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah, huge crowds gathered to welcome home the first buses carrying prisoners, with some chanting "Allahu akbar", or God is the greatest, in celebration.

And at a similar gathering in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis, residents climbed the sides of slow-moving Red Cross buses carrying the prisoners to welcome home their loved ones with a hug or kiss.

White House publishes full text of Trump Peace Declaration

The White House has published the full text of the 'Trump Declaration for Enduring Peace and Prosperity', co-signed by the leaders of the United States, Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey.

The declaration states that the leaders "welcome the truly historic commitment and implementation by all parties to the Trump Peace Agreement, ending more than two years of profound suffering and loss."

"Together, we will implement this agreement in a manner that ensures peace, security, stability, and opportunity for all peoples of the region, including both Palestinians and Israelis," it continues.

Signed by Trump, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the document formalises the four nations’ roles as mediators in the Israel-Hamas ceasefire negotiations.

It commits signatories to resolving future disputes "through diplomatic engagement and negotiation rather than through force or protracted conflict."

The declaration also underscores the importance of economic prosperity and the protection of “fundamental human rights” for both Palestinians and Israelis.

It acknowledges the Middle East’s "deep historical and spiritual significance" to Christian, Muslim, and Jewish communities, pledging that “respect for these sacred connections and the protection of their heritage sites shall remain paramount in our commitment to peaceful coexistence.”

The document concludes by stressing that "no society can flourish when violence and racism is normalised or when radical ideologies threaten the fabric of civil life."

Trump calls Italian PM 'beautiful' at Gaza summit

 Trump had some choice words for Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, the only female leader on stage at a Gaza summit in Egypt on Monday: "She's beautiful."

The three-times-married 79-year-old admitted that he risked being accused of sexism with the comments about hard-right leader Meloni, who was standing behind him on the podium.

"I'm not allowed to say it because usually it's the end of your political career if you say it -- she's a beautiful young woman," Trump said in the middle of a speech about his peace efforts for the Middle East.

"If you use the word 'beautiful' in the United States about a woman, that's the end of your political career, but I'll take my chances."

Turning round to address the 48-year-old, Trump said: "You don't mind being called beautiful, right? Because you are."

Meloni's immediate reaction could not be seen, as Trump's back was between her and the cameras.

Trump went on to call Meloni, an ideological ally when it comes to immigration and cultural issues, "incredible".

"And they really respect her in Italy. She's a very successful politician," he added.

Meloni was the only woman among around 30 leaders gathered on the stage behind Trump for the summit, where they signed a declaration pledging to help push through peace for Gaza.

Trump has previously been criticised for sexist remarks.

In September, a US appeals court upheld a jury's $83.3-million penalty against Trump for defaming author E. Jean Carroll, whom he was found to have sexually assaulted.

'Emotion and sadness'

"Welcome home," Israel's foreign ministry said in a series of posts on X, hailing the return of the hostages.

On Tel Aviv's Hostages Square, Noga shared her pain and joy.

"I'm torn between emotion and sadness for those who won't be coming back," she said.

Under the ceasefire agreement, Hamas is also due to return the bodies of 27 hostages who died or were killed in captivity, as well as the remains of a soldier killed in 2014 during a previous Gaza conflict.

Israel has said it does not expect all of the dead hostages to be returned on Monday, though the army said it had received the bodies of two captives that were handed over to the Red Cross by Hamas, and that it was still expecting the remains of two more.

Of the prisoners it freed in return, around 250 were security detainees, including many convicted of killing Israelis, while about 1,700 were taken into custody by the Israeli army in Gaza during the war.

On October 7, 2023, fighters seized 251 hostages during Hamas's unprecedented attack on Israel, which led to the deaths of 1,219 people, most of them civilians.

All but 47 of those hostages were freed in earlier truces, with the families of those who have remained in captivity leading lives of constant pain and worry for their loved ones.

'A new birth'

In Gaza, too, the ceasefire has brought relief, but with much of the territory flattened by war, the road to recovery remains long.

"The greatest joy is seeing my whole family gathered to welcome me," Yusef Afana, a 25-year-old released prisoner from north Gaza, told AFP news agency in Khan Younis.

"I spent 10 months in prison -- some of the hardest days I've ever lived."

In the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah, meanwhile, Palestinian prisoners released by Israel were met by a cheering crowd so dense that they struggled to get off the bus that delivered them from jail.

"It's an indescribable feeling, a new birth," newly released Mahdi Ramadan told AFP, flanked by his parents.

Trump's visit to the Middle East aims to celebrate his role in brokering last week's ceasefire and hostage release deal -- but much remains to be negotiated.

Among the potential sticking points are Hamas's refusal to disarm and Israel's failure to pledge full withdrawal from the devastated territory.

The US leader, however, repeatedly signalled he was confident the ceasefire will hold, saying at a joint appearance with Sisi in Sharm el-Sheikh that talks on the next steps of the plan were underway.

"It's started, as far as we're concerned, phase 2 has started," he said.

"The phases are all a little bit mixed in with each other," he added.

Trump announced in late September a 20-point plan for Gaza, which helped bring about the ceasefire.

At his appearance with Sisi, he lauded the Egyptian leader as having been "very instrumental" in talks with Hamas.

Sisi, for his part, said Trump was the "only one capable of bringing peace to our region".

Trump also briefly met with Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas at the summit, which representatives of Israel and Hamas did not attend.

Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem on Monday urged Trump and the mediators of the Gaza deal to "continue monitoring Israel's conduct and to ensure it does not resume its aggression against our people".

Israel's campaign in Gaza has killed at least 67,869 people, according to figures from the health ministry in the territory that the United Nations considers credible.