Date:October 13, 2025
Location:Israeli Knesset, Jerusalem
Context:Remarks delivered prior to President Trump’s address, in celebration of the U.S.-brokered ceasefire and hostage-prisoner exchange deal with Hamas, marking the release of the remaining 20 living Israeli hostages taken during the October 7, 2023 attacks. The session also featured remarks from Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana and opposition leader Yair Lapid. Netanyahu’s speech emphasized themes of resilience, gratitude to Trump, commitment to peace, and Israel’s security.
(Transcript compiled from official Knesset records, Israeli Government Press Office, and contemporaneous reports by The Times of Israel, Haaretz, and PBS NewsHour. English translation provided; original delivered in Hebrew.)
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Mr. Speaker, Honorable Members of the Knesset, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Today, we gather in this hallowed hall not just as lawmakers or leaders, but as a nation reborn from the ashes of unimaginable tragedy. Two years ago—on that black Sabbath of October 7, 2023—Hamas unleashed hell on our soil. They murdered 1,200 of our people in cold blood, including babies in their cribs, families at their tables, and festival-goers dancing to the rhythms of life. They took 253 hostages—innocent souls ripped from their homes, plunged into the darkness of Gaza’s tunnels. For 731 days, we fought, we mourned, we prayed. And today—thanks to unyielding resolve and the hand of providence—we stand here because the last of those living hostages, 20 brave souls, are coming home.
(Applause echoes throughout the chamber. Netanyahu pauses, his voice steady but laced with emotion.)
This moment is a testament to Israel’s unbreakable spirit. From the kibbutzim of the south to the streets of our cities, from the families who never stopped marching to the soldiers who charged into the fire—we did not bend. We did not break. And in the face of evil, we prevailed. But let us be clear: this victory is not Israel’s alone. It is shared with a true friend, a lion-hearted ally who stood with us when the world wavered.
President Donald Trump—you are that friend. You are the greatest champion Israel has ever had in the White House. When others whispered of restraint, you roared for strength. When the gavel of condemnation fell in international forums, you vetoed it with the force of American resolve. You moved our embassy to Jerusalem, our eternal capital. You recognized the Golan Heights as sovereign Israeli soil. And now, in this hour of historic turnaround, you brokered the deal that ends this nightmare—not with weakness, but with the iron will that says: Israel will defend itself, and America will stand by its side.
(Thunderous applause. Trump, seated in the front row beside President Isaac Herzog, nods and smiles. Netanyahu gestures toward him.)
Mr. President, I remember our first call after October 7. You said, “We’re with you—fully, completely, without hesitation.” And you delivered. Under your leadership, the United States surged munitions to our forces, sanctioned the ayatollahs in Tehran who armed our enemies, and built the Abraham Accords into a shield of peace that now extends from Morocco to the Emirates. Today, as the guns fall silent in Gaza and the hostages embrace their families, we say to you: Baruch atah b’shem Adonai—blessed are you in the name of the Lord. And blessed is the unbreakable bond between our two nations.
But this is not the end of our story—it is the dawn of a new chapter. The ceasefire holds because Hamas knows the cost of breaking it: total defeat. We have dismantled their battalions, destroyed their rocket factories, and secured our borders. Yet peace is not the absence of war; it is the presence of security. Israel remains vigilant. We will not allow Hamas—or any terror group—to rebuild. We will not cede an inch of our hard-won gains. And to our Palestinian neighbors: Lay down your arms. Choose life over death. Join us in building prosperity, not plots of destruction. The door to peace is open—if you walk through it with clean hands.
(Scattered murmurs from opposition benches; applause from coalition members.)
To the families of the hostages—those who returned today and those whose loved ones we mourn—you are the beating heart of this nation. Your pain fueled our fire. Your hope lit our path. To Noa Argamani, Andrey Kozlov, Almog Meir Jan, Shlomi Ziv, and all who endured the unimaginable: Baruchim habaim—welcome home. We see you. We honor you. And we vow: Never again.
To our brave soldiers and security forces: You turned the tide of history. From the tanks that rolled into Rafah to the commandos who struck in Tehran—you showed the world what Jewish courage looks like. Kol ha’kavod—well done.
And to the people of Israel: After two years of war that tested every fiber of our being, the years ahead will—inshallah, God willing—be a time for healing, for building, for dreaming. We will rebuild the south stronger, greener, safer. We will innovate, create jobs, and welcome the world to our shores. But above all, we will remember: Am Yisrael Chai—the people of Israel live.
Mr. President, on behalf of every Israeli—from the Negev to the Galilee, from Tel Aviv to Tiberias—thank you. You didn’t just save lives today; you safeguarded a nation’s future. As we move from war to wary peace, know this: Israel stands ready to partner with you. To counter Iran’s shadow. To expand the circle of peace. To make the Middle East a beacon, not a battlefield.
(Netanyahu turns directly to Trump.)
Mr. President, the floor is yours. Speak to us, to our people, to the world. And may God bless you, may God bless America, and may God bless the eternal alliance between our free peoples.
Thank you.
(The chamber erupts in a standing ovation lasting several minutes. Netanyahu shakes hands with Trump and Herzog before returning to his seat. The session proceeds to Trump’s address.)