On October 13, a day marked by the exchange of captives between Israel and Hamas, former US President Donald Trump addressed the Israeli Knesset, describing the moment as the start of a “new Middle East” and an “age of faith and hope.” He credited his “20-point plan” for the release of 20 Israelis and 250 Palestinian prisoners, alongside the return of 1,700 Gaza detainees.
Following his speech, Trump participated in a summit in Egypt to formalize the initial phase of his peace initiative. This plan reportedly included the deployment of a stabilization force to Gaza and the establishment of a Palestinian governing committee monitored by a “Board of Peace” led by Trump himself. The event was a highly publicized display of diplomacy, with Trump publicly acknowledging his team and key Israeli figures.
However, a closer examination of Trump’s claims reveals a pattern of embellishment and unsubstantiated assertions. His statement about resolving “8 wars in 8 months” lacks concrete evidence. While some conflicts saw temporary de-escalation, many remained unresolved, and ceasefires he helped broker, such as in the Democratic Republic of Congo, proved fleeting.
His dramatic claim of “dropping 14 bombs on Iran’s nuclear sites, obliterating them” is not officially corroborated. While satellite images suggest some damage, the extent of destruction remains unclear, making the claim speculative.
Trump’s repeated denunciation of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal also contrasts with international assessments. The deal, which Iran largely complied with and which was verified by inspectors, was abandoned by Trump in 2018. Many experts believe this withdrawal, rather than the original agreement, emboldened Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
Furthermore, Trump’s assertion that the Obama and Biden administrations exhibited “hatred toward Israel” is demonstrably false. Both administrations provided significant military and political support to Israel. His suggestion that Obama and Biden were inactive regarding the Abraham Accords is also inaccurate, as Obama had left office before the accords were signed, and Biden sought to expand them, a goal severely impacted by the overwhelming destruction and humanitarian crisis in Gaza following the October 7 attacks.