US President Donald Trump arrived in Israel on Monday morning for a historic visit, touching down at Ben-Gurion Airport around 9 a.m. Trump is scheduled to address a special session of the Knesset before continuing to a regional summit in Egypt later in the day.
Hamas terrorists made direct video calls from their own phones to the families of hostages Matan Zangauker, Nimrod Cohen, and brothers David and Ariel Cunio, allowing the hostages to show they were alive.
Hundreds of people began arriving at Hostages Square in Tel Aviv in the early hours of the morning, carrying flags, signs and shirts. As time passed, more citizens continued to stream into the square to watch together the release of the hostages from Gaza, expected to take place in two phases.
Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain are worried about the major role given to Qatar in President Donald Trump’s plan for Middle East reconstruction. A senior Saudi official told Israel Hayom that “excessive Qatari involvement will lead to the plan’s collapse.”
The start of the ceasefire in Gaza marks a shift in Israel’s national agenda. Developments in Iran’s nuclear program and the continued threats from the Houthis are posing major challenges for the security establishment. Still, there are signs of hope on the diplomatic front.
