'You've won': Trump pushes for Middle East peace; Netanyahu says 'Israel did what it had to do'

Hamas urges Trump, mediators to ensure Israel does not resume 'aggression' against Gazans

US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, though trading warm praise during speeches before the Knesset on Monday, projected markedly different visions for the region’s future., reported AP. Trump claimed he had already finished Israel’s war with Hamas, describing the ceasefire as an opening toward a broader diplomatic breakthrough. Netanyahu, however, spoke of unfinished business and emphasized Israel’s show of force over the past two years.

“Our enemies now understand just how powerful and just how determined Israel is,” Netanyahu declared, saying the attacks of October 7 were a “catastrophic mistake” made by those who underestimated his country. “These monsters take babies as hostages,” he said of Hamas, insisting that “Israel did what it had to do.”

Trump meanwhile announced that the conflict belonged on the list of global flashpoints he says he has resolved. He told Israel, “You’ve won,” and said it was time to transform military gains into peace. “Now it is time to translate these victories against terrorists on the battlefield into the ultimate prize of peace and prosperity for the entire Middle East.”

Yet, Netanyahu chose more cautious language, saying the deal now underway amounted to “a proposal to free hostages and end the war", according to the report. He had repeatedly vowed “total victory” against Hamas, including disarming the group and forcing its surrender, and now faces criticism that Hamas, though weakened, still exists.

The political stakes differ sharply for both men, the report said. Trump, who promotes his negotiating style as similar to deal-making in business, now risks being judged internationally on whether the ceasefire holds. He called the moment “a new dawn of a new Middle East” and said economic cooperation could bridge long-standing regional divides. Netanyahu, on the other hand, could see his governing coalition collapse if he formally calls the war over, potentially triggering elections before 2026 at a time when his domestic support is low.

Speaking of possible future talks involving Tehran, Trump surprised many in the Knesset audience by saying the United States is prepared for discussions with Iran: “You know what would be great, if we could make a peace deal with them. Would you be happy with that? Wouldn’t it be nice? Because I think they want to. I think they’re tired.” The reaction in the room to that line was far quieter than to his other comments.

Netanyahu answered by framing Iran as a regional enemy, praising Israel’s “amazing victories over Hamas and the entire Iranian terror axis.” Trump, though, highlighted U.S. military operations, praising the June strikes that he said dealt “a big cloud off of the Middle East and off of Israel” by targeting Iran’s nuclear efforts.

According to the report, both leaders addressed world pressure on Israel to halt fighting, but from opposite angles. Netanyahu rebuked the critics, arguing that the international community had “bought into Hamas’ false propaganda” and claimed many governments had “succumb to antisemitic mobs in their own countries.” Agreeing to Hamas’ conditions, he argued, would mean “In no time, the Hamas killers would be back on the border fence, ready to repeat the horrors of October 7th again and again.”

Trump suggested instead that outside opposition to the war might have made continued fighting unrealistic for Israel. He commented on Gaza’s suffering, which has drawn accusations of genocide that Israel denies, and noted the global response by saying, “This piece of land is very small. You have this little dot, and think of what you’ve done. It’s incredible.”

Pointing to Palestinian recovery, Trump said, “The total focus of Gazans must be on restoring the fundamentals of stability, safety, dignity and economic development.” His plan leaves open the possibility of eventual Palestinian statehood, something Netanyahu and his coalition partners reject.

Netanyahu said he wanted “Peace inside Israel and peace outside Israel,” though he framed the future differently than Trump, calling for a world “that will unite civilization against barbarism, light against darkness and hope against despair.”

The two also exchanged personal acknowledgments. Trump argued that Netanyahu should not face legal troubles, referring to the prime minister’s corruption trial by mocking one allegation: “Cigars and champagne, who the hell cares about that?” Netanyahu later said he would nominate Trump for the Israel Prize after Trump was passed over for the Nobel Peace Prize.

After their Knesset appearances, Trump continued to Egypt for a “peace summit” with more than 20 world leaders at Sharm el-Sheikh. Netanyahu, however, declined the invitation, citing proximity to the Jewish festival of Simchat Torah.

With inputs from AP