❓WHAT HAPPENED: Israeli President Isaac Herzog called for President Donald J. Trump to receive the Nobel Peace Prize for his role in negotiating a hostage deal to end the Gaza war.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Trump, President Herzog, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Hamas, and negotiating teams in Egypt.
📍WHEN & WHERE: The announcement was made October 9, following negotiations in Egypt, with Herzog posting his statement on X.
💬KEY QUOTE: “I wish to extend my deepest thanks to President Donald Trump for his incredible leadership toward securing the release of the hostages, bringing an end to the war, and creating hope for a new reality in the Middle East. There is no doubt that he deserves the Nobel Peace Prize for this.” – Isaac Herzog
🎯IMPACT: The ceasefire agreement is expected to bring relief to those affected by the conflict and marks a chance for regional healing.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog has praised President Donald J. Trump for his key role in negotiating a deal that is expected to end the war in Gaza and secure the release of hostages. In a statement posted on X, Herzog described the agreement as “historic and momentous,” and singled out Trump for his leadership during the negotiation process.
“I wish to extend my deepest thanks to President Donald Trump for his incredible leadership toward securing the release of the hostages, bringing an end to the war, and creating hope for a new reality in the Middle East,” Herzog said. “There is no doubt that he deserves the Nobel Peace Prize for this.”
Herzog also acknowledged the efforts of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli negotiating team, and international mediators. However, he offered special praise for Trump, noting the emotional weight of the agreement for families who have endured more than two years of uncertainty. “It offers a chance to mend, to heal, and to open a new horizon of hope for our region,” Herzog said.
Trump’s involvement in the deal follows weeks of escalating diplomacy. On October 3, Hamas publicly responded to Trump’s ceasefire proposal, signaling a willingness to release remaining hostages under certain conditions. The group said it was open to discussions on Gaza’s postwar governance within a broader Palestinian national framework. Trump’s plan included a full ceasefire, the return of hostages, including those who had died in captivity, and the release of around 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.
Herzog’s remarks follow growing international recognition of Trump’s role in the process. On October 8 and 9, Hamas itself issued statements praising Trump for his efforts, saying he had played a significant role in pushing toward an end to the war and a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
The agreement marks the latest chapter in Trump’s Middle East diplomacy, building on the Abraham Accords signed in 2020 during his presidency, which normalized relations between Israel and several Arab states. Netanyahu previously nominated Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize for that initiative.
Concluding his statement, Herzog quoted from the Book of Jeremiah: “And they shall return from the land of the enemy… and children shall return to their own border.”
He added: “Should [Trump] visit us in the coming days, he will be received with immense respect, affection, and gratitude by the people of Israel.”
Image by Haim Zach / Government Press Office of Israel.
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