Trump floats peace deal with Iran, calls for Netanyahu pardon
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More news: Speaking to Israel’s Knesset on Monday following Hamas’ release of the final 20 living Israeli hostages, US President Donald Trump said it would be “great” if the US could strike a peace deal with Iran.
“Wouldn’t it be nice. Because I think they want to,” Trump said. “The hand of friendship and co-operation is open…we are ready when you are,” Trump added.
The US was briefly involved in Israel’s 12-day war against Iran in June, and bombed two of the country’s main uranium enrichment facilities. The attacks damaged Iran’s nuclear plants, but western diplomats say the programme is not fully destroyed.
The attacks ended talks between the US and Iran which were focused on securing a deal to end a stand-off over the country’s nuclear program.
During the President’s address on Monday, Trump also called on Israeli President Isaac Herzog to issue a pardon to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who has been on trial since 2020 on charges of fraud, bribery and breach of trust.
“Hey, I have an idea — why don’t you give him a pardon?” said Trump, pointing at Netanyahu during his speech in the Knesset. “It just seems to make so much sense. Whether we like it or not, this has been one of the great wartime presidents.”
Final 20 living Israeli hostages released by Hamas
The news: Hamas has freed the final 20 living Israeli hostages from the Gaza Strip, in the wake of a US-led peace deal.
The context: Hamas released the final 13 living hostages to the Red Cross around 11:00am local time (7:00pm AEDT), after seven had been released earlier on Monday morning, Israeli news service Ynet confirmed.
The bodies of 28 other hostages remain in the terror group’s hands, with plans to transfer some of them to Israel later on Monday.
Israel is set to release almost 2,000 jailed Palestinians in the exchange, as well as increasing its aid to Gaza.
The ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas was secured after days of indirect negotiations brokered by the US, Egypt, Qatar and Turkey on the terms of a 20-point plan put forward by Trump.
The move comes as US President Donald Trump visits Israel where he will address the Israeli Knesset before travelling to Egypt for a signing ceremony on the Gaza plan.
As Trump arrived in the Knesset, he signed the Knesset guestbook in front of the press, writing: “This is my great honor. A great and beautiful day, a new beginning.”
