And he confirmed that, working with US House Speaker Mike Johnson, the Knesset would “rally” global parliaments to recommend Trump for next year’s Nobel Peace Prize.
No American president has ever done more for Israel"
Speaking ahead of Trump’s address, Prime Minister Netanyahu said: “The Knesset welcomes you and your distinguished delegation to Jerusalem, our eternal capital.
“Mr President, your name will be engraved in our history...the harbinger of good tidings came just a few hours ago that all the living hostages have been returned to us.”
He thanked Trump for recognising Jerusalem as the capital, as well as “Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights” and “our rights in Judea and Samaria [the biblical name for the West Bank], the ancestral homeland of the Jewish people”, and “standing up against the lies against Israel in the United Nations”.
He also confirmed he had personally submitted Trump as a nominee to be the first non-Israeli to receive the Israel Prize, the Jewish state’s highest civilian award.
US President Trump receives a standing ovation in the Israeli Knesset on October 13, 2025 (Image: YouTube/Sky News)[Missing Credit]
"No American president has ever done more for Israel and, as I said in Washington, ‘it ain’t even close’,” he added.
"Mr President, you are committed to this peace, I am committed to this peace, and together we will achieve this peace. We have done it before in the Abraham Accords and we will do it again.”
Likewise, Opposition Leader Yair Lapid told Trump that “after two years without air in our lungs”, “you have saved the lives of our hostages”, “the souls of the bereaved” and “thousands of soldiers who will now not fall in battle”.
Today the skies are calm, the guns are silent, the sirens are still"
Following lengthy welcoming speeches, Trump said: “It’s a great honour, nice place, very nice place.
"We gather on a day of profound joy, of soaring hope...and above all a day to give our thanks to the almighty God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
"After two harrowing years in darkness and captivity, 20 courageous hostages are returning to the glorious embrace of their families.
“Today the skies are calm, the guns are silent, the sirens are still and the sun rises on a holy land...and a region that will live, god willing, in peace for all eternity.”
"The long and painful nightmare is finally over,” he added later.
Hailing Netanyahu, he joked: “He’s not easy, he’s not the easiest guy to deal with, but that’s what makes him great.”
"It’s an incredible triumph for Israel and the world to have all the nations working together as partners in peace,” he went on.
"Generations from now, this will be remembered as the moment that everything began to change...it will be the golden age of Israel and the golden age of the Middle East.”
Far-left MK Ayman Odeh is escorted from the Knesset after protesting President Trump's speech on October 13, 2025 (Image: YouTube/Sky News)[Missing Credit]
At that point, Trump’s speech was interrupted by yelling from a pair of MKs from the far-left Hadash faction, Ayman Odeh and Ofer Cassif, who held up a sign reading “recognise Palestine” and reportedly called Trump a “terrorist”. The duo were quickly ejected from the chamber by security.
Following the ejections, Trump went on to praise Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner for their role in the ceasefire agreement, IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi for the military’s conduct of the war and the collaboration of US and Israeli leadership in the war against Iran.
And, on the future of the region, he said: “Gaza will be immediately demilitarised and Hamas will be disarmed. Your security will not be threatened anymore.
"Israel, with our help, has won all that they can with force of arms, you’ve one. Now it’s time to translate these victories against terrorists on the battlefield into the ultimate prize of peace and prosperity for the entire Middle East.
"It’s time for you to enjoy the fruits of your labour.”
Continuing his address, Trump said he was due to travel to Egypt for a multi-lateral summit “give a shot” to regional peace, though he joked that “[other world leaders] may not be there by the time I get there” due to the length of Netanyahu and Lapid’s speeches.
"The world wanted peace and Israel wanted peace, and what a victory it has been,” he said.
"You are safer today, stronger today and more respected today that at any time in Israeli history.”
Wounded soldier Ari Spitz receives applause in the Knesset on October 13, 2025 (Image: YouTube/SkyNews)[Missing Credit]
Elsewhere in the session, Netanyahu praised American-Israeli soldier Ari Spitz, who lost three limbs in combat and was present in the Knesset.
"Ari, you are the spirit of Joshua, you are the spirit of the Macabees, you are the spirit of Israel and we all salute you,” the prime minister said.
A total of 20 captives have now been handed over to the Red Cross and transported back to Israel as part of the Trump-backed Gaza ceasefire deal.
They have been named as Matan Angrest, Gali Berman, Ziv Berman, Alon Ohel, Eitan Mor, Guy Gilboa-Dalal, Omrim Miran, Bar Kupershtein, Ariel Cunio, David Cunio, Matan Zangauker, Nimrod Cohen, Yosef Chaim Ohana, Elkana Bobot, Avinatan Or, Maxim Herkin, Segev Kalfon, Eitan Horn, Evyatar David and Rom Braslavski.
Their release has prompted jubilation in Tel Aviv's Hostages Square, where expectant families have gathered to welcome their loved ones home.
Hundreds have filled the square this morning, waving Israeli flags and hostage posters and singing songs to celebrate the news.
It is expected that the release of the remains of the 28 hostages believed to be dead will take longer as Hamas looks to recover them from burial sites within Gaza.
Nonetheless, they are expected to be returned by the end of the day.
Their names are: Itay Chen, Dror Oz, Daniel Oz, Daniel Peretz, Lior Rudaeff, Eliyahu Margalit, Yossi Sharabi, Meny Godard, Amiram Cooper, Tamir Adar, Muhammad Al-Atarash, Omer Neutra, Sahar Baruch, Uriel Baruch, Tal Haimi, Ronen Engel, Hadar Goldin, Arie Zalmanowicz, Guy Illouz, Eitan Levi, Joshua Loitu Mollel, Inbar Hayman, Asaf Hamami, Ran Gvili, Sonthaya Oakkharasri and Sudthisak Rinthalak, Tamir Nimrodi and Bipin Joshi.
In return, security forces at Ofer Prison in the West Bank are reportedly preparing to release 250 terror convicts, all of whom are serving at least one life sentence.
They will be released into the territory via the Beitunia checkpoint near Ramallah.
Seven prisoners from East Jerusalem will also return to their homes under police escort, while another seven will be deported abroad.
And a further 1,718 Gazan detainees will be returned to the Strip from Ketziot Prison in southern Israel. The first of an estimated 38 buses containing the prisoners has entered Gaza.
