Trump Claims Credit for Gaza Ceasefire During Middle East Tour, Amid Ongoing Regional Tensions:

Despite widespread devastation in Gaza, former U.S. President Donald Trump received a warm welcome during a recent trip to Israel and Egypt, where he celebrated a newly brokered ceasefire deal. The visit marked a major political moment for Trump, who positioned himself as a peacemaker and took personal credit for bringing an end to Israel’s deadly two-year offensive on Gaza. Trump addressed Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, on Monday before traveling to Egypt’s Sharm el-Sheikh for a high-profile signing ceremony. The event was attended by regional and international leaders, where Trump described the agreement as the beginning of a “new Middle East.” “This is the end of an age of terror and death, and the beginning of the age of faith, hope, and God,” Trump declared. “This is the historic dawn of a new Middle East.” Trump praised the ceasefire as a turning point and emphasized his support for Israel throughout the visit. However, human rights groups were quick to point out that the deal does not address the root causes of the conflict. Nearly 68,000 Palestinians were killed during the Israeli campaign in Gaza, which rights organizations have labeled as genocide. Despite the ceasefire, Israel has continued military strikes in Lebanon and Syria, and settlement construction in the occupied West Bank shows no signs of slowing. Palestinian advocates argue that without a real end to occupation and oppression, peace cannot be sustained. Still, Trump’s visit was framed as a diplomatic triumph. He heaped praise on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calling him “one of the greatest wartime leaders.” He even publicly urged Israeli President Isaac Herzog to pardon Netanyahu, who is facing multiple corruption charges, including accepting expensive gifts. “I have an idea: Mr. President, why don’t you give him a pardon?” Trump said to loud applause in the Knesset. “Cigars and champagne—who the hell cares about it?” Trump also revealed details about U.S. military support to Israel, boasting about the weapons he provided during his presidency. “Bibi would call me all the time — ‘Can you get me this weapon, that weapon?’ Some of them I never even heard of,” Trump recalled. Over the past two years, the U.S. has given Israel $21 billion in aid, much of it military. That support has been widely criticized by international observers, particularly in light of the destruction in Gaza. Trump did acknowledge that Israel’s global image has taken a hit due to the atrocities committed in Gaza. “The world is big and strong, and ultimately, the world wins,” he said, referring to recent decisions by several countries to recognize a Palestinian state in response to the war. While Trump congratulated Netanyahu for agreeing to end the war, his remarks offered little empathy for Palestinians. He called on Gaza’s population to focus on “stability, safety, dignity, and economic development,” but avoided any mention of the decades of occupation, displacement, or the humanitarian crisis caused by Israeli airstrikes. He framed Palestinian resistance as driven by hate rather than legitimate grievances, saying, “Now is the time to build their people up, instead of trying to tear Israel down.” Trump also claimed that recent U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities helped pave the way for the ceasefire. He credited these attacks with removing the “excuse” for Arab states to avoid normalization with Israel. “I think Iran will come along,” he said, leaving the door open for future talks. However, Iran’s nuclear infrastructure was reportedly targeted just days before U.S.-Iran negotiations were set to resume. As Trump continues to position himself as a key architect of Middle East peace, critics argue that any lasting resolution will require more than ceasefires and ceremonies — it will require justice, accountability, and an end to systemic inequality.

NEWS