Israel Awards Highest Honor to Trump in 2025 for Gaza Peace Efforts

Jerusalem, Oct. 13, 2025 — Israel Awards Highest Honor to Trump in 2025 for Gaza Peace Efforts and securing hostage release. U.S. President Donald Trump will be awarded Israel’s highest civilian honour, the Israeli Presidential Medal of Honour, for his role in brokering a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and helping to secure the release of hostages from Gaza.

The announcement by Israeli President Isaac Herzog comes just hours before Trump’s arrival in Israel as part of a landmark Middle East visit aimed at cementing the newly brokered Gaza peace plan. “Through his tireless efforts, President Trump has not only helped bring our loved ones home but has also laid the foundations for a new era in the Middle East built on security, cooperation, and genuine hope for a peaceful future,” Herzog’s office said in a statement.

Israel Awards Highest Honor to Trump in 2025 for Gaza Peace Efforts

1. Israel to Honour Trump for ‘Laying Foundation for a New Middle East’

President Herzog praised Trump for his decisive role in bringing about what many are calling the most significant diplomatic breakthrough in the region in years.

“It will be a great honour for me to present him with the Israeli Presidential Medal of Honour,” Herzog said.

The award recognizes Trump’s efforts in mediating the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, which ended more than two years of deadly conflict in Gaza. It also acknowledges his contribution to securing the release of Israeli hostages held by the militant group.

According to Herzog’s office, Trump will be informed of Israel’s decision during his visit, while the formal ceremony to present the medal will take place “in the coming months.”

2. Israel’s Presidential Medal of Honour — A Rare Distinction

The Israeli Presidential Medal of Honour is awarded to individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the State of Israel or to humanity.

In the past, only a handful of global figures have received the award. Among them are former U.S. Presidents Barack Obama (2013) and Joe Biden (2022), both recognized for strengthening Israel’s security and bilateral ties.

With this recognition, Trump joins the short list of world leaders honoured for their impact on Israel’s security and diplomacy.

3. A Timely Honour Amid Gaza Ceasefire and Hostage Release

The timing of Israel’s decision to confer the award coincides with a major hostage-detainee exchange set to take place on Monday — a direct result of Trump’s 20-point Gaza peace plan accepted last week by both Israel and Hamas.

Under the deal:

• Hamas will release 20 living hostages and hand over the remains of others.
• Israel will release around 2,000 Palestinian detainees.
• Israeli troops will partially withdraw from Gaza.
• Humanitarian corridors will reopen, allowing aid and medical supplies into the enclave.

The exchange marks the first phase of Trump’s peace framework, designed to end the two-year war that began with Hamas’s surprise attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.

Trump’s initiative also outlines steps toward a self-governing Gaza, backed by international monitors and funded by regional partners like Egypt, Qatar, and the UAE.

4. Trump’s Visit to Israel and Egypt: A High-Stakes Diplomatic Tour

Trump is scheduled to arrive in Tel Aviv early Monday morning, accompanied by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, and top military commander Gen. Dan Caine.

According to the White House, the president’s four-hour visit to Israel will include:

• An address to the Knesset (Israeli Parliament),
• A meeting with families of hostages, and
• Discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and senior officials.

Following his engagements in Israel, Trump will travel to Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, to co-host the Gaza Peace Summit with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

The summit, notably, will exclude Israel to allow Arab and international delegates to discuss Gaza’s reconstruction and governance post-ceasefire.

5. Missed Nobel Prize, but Gains Israel’s Highest Honour

Trump’s recognition by Israel comes days after the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize announcement — a decision that reportedly disappointed the U.S. president, who had been publicly hopeful about receiving the award.

The Nobel Committee awarded this year’s prize to Venezuelan politician and democracy activist Maria Corina Machado, citing her “courageous fight for freedom and democratic values.”

Trump had previously claimed that his administration had “ended seven wars” and “brought peace to the Middle East,” suggesting he was the most deserving candidate for the Nobel.

Although he missed the Nobel, the Israeli honour serves as symbolic validation of his peace efforts.

Also Read: Dramatic Moments Behind Trump’s Gaza Peace Push and Nobel Prize Bid 2025

Trump Declares: “The War Is Over”

Before departing for the Middle East, Trump addressed reporters aboard Air Force One, declaring that the war in Gaza is over.

“The war is over — you understand that?” he said, calling his visit to the Middle East “special” and “a very significant event.”

“Everyone’s very excited about this moment. It’s a truly historic time,” Trump added, expressing optimism that the ceasefire will hold.

Trump’s statement marks the first public U.S. acknowledgment that active hostilities between Israel and Hamas have ceased.

Netanyahu, Herzog Praise Trump’s Role

Israeli leaders have praised Trump’s intervention as crucial in ending the prolonged conflict and securing the release of hostages.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who had earlier thanked Trump for his “momentous contribution,” called the ceasefire “a great victory for peace.”

“Together we achieved tremendous victories that amazed the whole world,” Netanyahu said. “But at the same time, the fight for stability and security in the region continues.”

President Herzog’s decision to confer the medal reinforces Trump’s standing as a key figure in the post-war transition toward peace and reconstruction in Gaza.

Trump’s 20-Point Gaza Peace Plan: Core Provisions

Trump’s peace blueprint for Gaza, announced earlier this month, outlines three critical stages:

1. Immediate Ceasefire and Hostage Release
   • Cessation of hostilities and exchange of captives and detainees.
2. Humanitarian Relief and Reconstruction
   • Coordination with international partners for aid distribution.
3. Governance and Security Arrangements
   • Establishment of a temporary administrative council for Gaza, excluding Hamas, backed by Arab states and supervised by U.N. observers.

Trump has called this framework “a foundation for lasting peace,” insisting that “the people of Gaza deserve freedom and dignity after years of suffering.”

Regional and Global Reaction

The international response to the ceasefire and Trump’s recognition has been cautiously optimistic.

European Union leaders welcomed the truce, urging both sides to use the pause to “build momentum toward a political settlement.”

Meanwhile, in Washington, some lawmakers across party lines credited Trump for achieving what years of diplomacy had failed to deliver.

However, critics warn that lasting peace remains uncertain, pointing to deep mistrust between Israelis and Palestinians and the lack of a comprehensive political resolution.

Egypt’s Pivotal Role in the Peace Process

Egypt, which hosted multiple rounds of back-channel talks between Israel and Hamas, has emerged as a key partner in Trump’s peace architecture.

President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi hailed Trump’s involvement as “decisive and historic,” saying it “restored faith in diplomacy.”

The upcoming Sharm el-Sheikh Peace Summit, co-chaired by Trump and al-Sisi, is expected to finalize international mechanisms for Gaza’s post-war recovery.

Also Read: Israel, Egypt to present their highest civilian honours to U.S. President Donald Trump

From Controversy to Recognition

Trump’s diplomatic style — characterized by unconventional methods and bold claims — has often polarized global opinion.

Yet, in Israel, there is broad bipartisan appreciation for his latest efforts, particularly his success in achieving a hostage release after years of failed negotiations.

While his critics accuse him of self-promotion, supporters see the Israeli honour as a fitting acknowledgment of his achievements.

Conclusion: A Symbolic Moment in a Shifting Middle East

As Donald Trump lands in Tel Aviv to be briefed on the hostage exchange and to address the Knesset, Israel’s announcement serves as both a gesture of gratitude and a signal of shifting regional dynamics.

Though the road to lasting peace remains uncertain, the symbolism of Israel’s highest civilian honour — bestowed upon a sitting U.S. president — underscores the depth of Trump’s influence in the Middle East’s evolving narrative. For now, as hostages return home and guns fall silent, Trump’s words echo across a weary region:

“The war is over.”