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by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Chief

(Worthy News) – U.S. President Donald Trump departed Washington on Sunday for what he called a “historic” Middle East peace tour aimed at finalizing his long-promised regional peace plan. The trip comes on the heels of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire in Gaza and a sweeping hostage release deal, hailed by the White House as a turning point for the region.

Speaking before boarding Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews, Trump declared the Gaza war “over,” despite Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s caution that military operations were not yet complete. “The war is over,” Trump insisted. “Everybody’s cheering — Muslims, Arabs, Israelis — that’s never happened before.”

Trump’s itinerary begins in Jerusalem, where he will meet Netanyahu at the Knesset and later address the full parliament. He also plans to meet with the families of Israeli hostages before flying to Egypt for an international summit in Sharm el-Sheikh attended by nearly twenty world leaders. “It’s a great deal for Israel, but it’s a great deal for everybody,” Trump said. “On Monday, the hostages come back.”

The U.S. president is accompanied by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, along with senior advisers tasked with implementing what the administration calls “Phase Two” of the regional peace framework — a broader normalization effort that extends beyond Gaza.

Netanyahu’s Balancing Act

In a televised address Sunday evening, Netanyahu called the moment “an evening of tears and happiness,” anticipating the hostages’ return. He thanked the IDF and families of the fallen while warning Israelis that “the campaign is not over.”

“There are still major security challenges ahead,” Netanyahu said. “Our enemies are trying to recover to attack us again, but we are on this. Together, we will overcome the challenges and seize the opportunities.”

The prime minister appealed for unity amid deep political divisions, urging Israelis to “set aside our differences” in what he called the beginning of “a new road — a road of building, of healing, and of unity.”

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir credited Israel’s military pressure and “complementary diplomatic moves” for bringing Hamas to the table, adding that Israel’s actions are “reshaping the Middle East and our security strategy for the coming years.”

Opposition Voices and Political Strains

Despite the fanfare surrounding Trump’s visit, opposition and far-right lawmakers in Israel voiced strong objections to both the ceasefire deal and Trump’s speech to the Knesset. Three MKs — Likud’s Amit Halevi, Otzma Yehudit’s Limor Son Har-Melech, and Noam party leader Avi Maoz — announced they would boycott the address, calling the agreement a “false spectacle” that rewards Hamas.

Halevi described Trump’s deal as “an illusion of victory,” accusing the government of agreeing to “the establishment of a Palestinian state on ancestral land in Gaza” and giving “antisemitic enemies Turkey and Qatar a foothold here.” Son Har-Melech added that Israel’s security “suffered a hard blow when it was signed” and warned that “the next round of fighting is only a matter of time.”

Meanwhile, Religious Zionism MK Moshe Solomon said his party would remain in the coalition only if Hamas is disarmed and prevented from regaining control of Gaza. “If Hamas remains armed and in control, we cannot stay in this government,” he warned.

As Trump’s Air Force One heads toward Jerusalem, the contrast between Washington’s celebration and Israel’s internal rift underscores the fragile nature of the peace Trump hopes to seal — a peace that may redefine the region but could also test Israel’s political endurance.

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