A MARTÍNEZ, HOST:
Today, Hamas freed the last 20 surviving Israeli hostages being held captive in Gaza, and Israel began releasing some 2,000 Palestinian prisoners under the ceasefire agreement. President Trump was seen as the driving force behind this deal, and he's just addressed Israel's legislature in Jerusalem. For more, here's NPR's Greg Myre in Tel Aviv. Greg, what was President Trump's message?
GREG MYRE, BYLINE: Yeah. Trump cast this deal in very grand language, calling it a historic dawn for the Middle East. Here's a bit of what he had to say.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: Generations from now, this will be remembered as the moment that everything began to change and change very much for the better. Like the USA right now, it will be the golden age of Israel and the golden age of the Middle East. It's going to work together.
MYRE: So Trump did play a critical role in bringing about this truce. Everybody's pretty much in agreement on that, but there's still a very long way to go. We'll have to see if the ceasefire sticks. It's holding for now. And we'll have to see if these long-standing political issues can be resolved. Trump is also saying that the war is over, but the Israeli leader, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, hasn't gone this far. He wants to keep his options open and still has Israeli troops in Gaza.
MARTÍNEZ: OK. How was President Trump greeted when he got to Israel?
MYRE: You know, it's absolutely overwhelming, A. Even as much as President Trump's - likes to be feted, this was a - truly a - an astounding welcome. He'd got a red carpet welcome at Ben Gurion Airport outside Tel Aviv. He was greeted by Prime Minister Netanyahu. Trump's daughter Ivanka and her husband, Jared Kushner, who helped negotiate the truce, were also there to greet him. And more broadly, Israel has just fully embraced Trump. There's the crowd at Hostages Square, where they're - they've held the vigil for the detained hostages in Gaza. And they've been chanting, Trump, Trump, Trump, and, thank you, Trump. We've seen billboards cropping up featuring Trump all over the country. And even on the beachfront in Tel Aviv, Trump's distinctive profile was carved in the sand, accompanied by a big, thank you, and an Israeli flag.
MARTÍNEZ: Now, what role will Trump and his administration have in the next stages of the Gaza ceasefire?
MYRE: So the plan is for them to remain very active. About 200 American troops are being sent here. At least some are already here. It's - because I see them walking around our hotel here in their uniforms. They'll be part of a military-civilian coordination center. And this will involve other countries, as well, all trying to keep the ceasefire on track. But we should stress that the Americans and the others will be doing things like planning, logistics, transportation, and doing it from a safe distance inside Israel. These forces won't be on the ground in Gaza.
MARTÍNEZ: OK. Now, the president's only in Israel a short time, only briefly. Can you tell us where he's going next?
MYRE: Yeah. As soon as he wraps up here in Israel, he's flying to Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, on the Red Sea, and there's a formal signing ceremony for the ceasefire. Now, some 20 national leaders are supposed to be there, and it will be a day of success and celebration. But again, this is stage one. Much harder stages are ahead. And it will - they will play out for weeks, months, even years ahead.
MARTÍNEZ: That's NPR's Greg Myre in Tel Aviv. Greg, thanks.
MYRE: Sure thing, A. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.
