Celebrating a hard-won ceasefire, Trump pushes for 'lasting harmony' in the Middle East

A jubilant Donald Trump celebrated a hard-won ceasefire in the conflict between Israel and Hamas militants on Monday.

WASHINGTON — A jubilant Donald Trump celebrated a hard-won ceasefire Monday in the conflict between Israel and Hamas militants, while inviting Middle East leaders to create a lasting peace that unlocks the region’s potential for dramatic economic growth.

As all 20 living hostages rejoined their families in Israel, Trump spoke to the nation's parliament in Jerusalem and marked a momentous breakthrough in a war that began just over two years ago.

The U.S. president who wrung a peace deal from bitter combatants told the Knesset that “the long and painful nightmare is finally over.”

“This is not only the end of a war,” said Trump, who had arrived in Israel in the morning. “This is the end of an age of terror and death and the beginning of the age of faith and hope and of God.

"It’s the start of a grand concord and lasting harmony for Israel and all the nations of what will soon be a truly magnificent region.”