By Ellie Cook

Copyright newsweek

An Israeli lawmaker was removed from the Israeli parliamentary chamber after interrupting President Donald Trump’s speech, which coincided with the release of 20 living hostages from Gaza and the return of the first Palestinian prisoners from Israeli detention.

Trump landed in Tel Aviv early on Monday before heading for the Knesset in Jerusalem, where he hailed a “historic dawn of a new Middle East.”

“This is not only the end of a war,” Trump said. “This is the end of the age of terror and death and the beginning of the age of faith and hope and of God.”

His speech was briefly interrupted by an Israeli politician, who was quickly escorted away by security. Responding to the incident, Trump said: “That was very efficient.”

Hamas agreed to the first stage of the ceasefire and hostage proposal earlier this month, paving the way for a more comprehensive peace deal for Gaza.

Under the agreement, Hamas said it would return the 20 living hostages kept in Gaza, along with the remains of another 28 people. Israel also agreed to withdraw to control roughly half of the enclave, and release 250 Palestinian prisoners and 1,700 Gazans who were detained after the attacks on October 7, 2023.

President Donald Trump talks with Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, in Jerusalem on Monday.

This month marked two years since the October 7 attacks, when militants led by Hamas crossed into southern Israel and killed roughly 1,200 people. Another 251 were taken as hostages into the strip.

Israel then launched its war on the strip, which has been devastated by fierce bombardment and Israel Defense Forces (IDF) ground operations.

Hamas health authorities in Gaza say more than 67,000 people have been killed in the territory since October 7, 2023. This figure does not distinguish between combatants and civilians and is disputed by Israeli officials, but is widely cited by Western sources.

This is a breaking story. More to follow.