PRESS REVIEW – Monday, October 13: Israeli papers, from right-wing to left-wing, have praised US President Donald Trump following the hostage release. Meanwhile, the Arab press highlights the West’s “outrageous” treatment of Palestinians. Finally, The New York Times describes the peace deal as a “defeat” for Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu.

On the day of the hostage release and as Donald Trump declared the end of the Gaza war, some Israeli papers are expressing gratitude towards the US president. The right-wing Jerusalem Post features “God bless the peacemaker” on its front page, along with a thank-you note from the president of the World Jewish Congress, who praises Trump’s “visionary leadership” as “making history”. An opinion piece by the vice president of the same congress describes Trump as “the Alexander the Great of our time,” drawing a comparison: “Alexander, who saved the Jews, and President Trump – saviour of Israel.”

In its analysis, The Jerusalem Post covers the mixed reactions to Trump and Netanyahu at Tel Aviv’s hostage square, where Trump’s name was met with cheers and Netanyahu’s with boos. The article acknowledges Netanyahu’s role in securing the hostages’ release but also notes his “enormous responsibility for 7 October”. Finally, The Times of Israel reports that the prime minister warned of “major security challenges” ahead and that “some enemies are trying to recover to launch further attacks.”

Left-wing paper Haaretz also credits Trump. An opinion piece argues that “Trump rescuing hostages shows we must welcome help, even from controversial figures,” adding that Trump’s Middle East policy was more effective than Biden’s. It highlights the contrast between Trump and Biden, particularly in military operations in Gaza, asserting that “military pressure was indeed a factor in bringing the hostages back”. Another article in Haaretz discusses Israel’s “paradox of grief and joy”, noting that while some families will learn their loved ones will not return, even those reunited will feel the communal pain, creating a clash of emotions.

In the Arab press, Saudi Arabian Arab News features Pope Leo’s call for “courage” from those negotiating a peace plan for Gaza at the summit in Egypt. The Pope prayed to God for help in “accomplishing what now seems humanly impossible – rediscovering that the other is not an enemy”. Middle East Eye reported that on Sunday morning, the Israeli army raided the homes of some Palestinian leaders. The article also notes Israel’s refusal to include Palestinian leaders serving sentences in the deal, even threatening to sabotage the process if Hamas continued to pressure mediators for their release. Meanwhile, an opinion piece in Arab News condemns the West’s response to Gaza, titled “The immoral hypocrisy of West’s response to Gaza killings”. The author criticises the West for consistently emphasising Israeli tragedy while ignoring Palestinian suffering.

Finally, global analyses of the new peace deal are emerging. In The New York Times, an opinion piece discusses “the uncomfortable truth about Netanyahu’s victory”, suggesting that while the deal represents the beginning of the end for the conflict, Netanyahu is downplaying its significance and maintaining Israeli troops in Gaza. The piece argues that this deal contradicts Netanyahu’s government’s promises of “total victory and the destruction of Hamas,” rendering it a defeat for his leadership. In an editorial for the French left-wing Libération, deputy editor-in-chief Hamdam Mostafavi acknowledges Trump’s pivotal role in the ceasefire but emphasises that “many questions remain unanswered” – including the future of Gaza’s reconstruction, Palestinian leadership, and Netanyahu’s political fate. Lastly, a cartoon by Lebanese illustrator Hassan Bleibel illustrates Trump’s vision of peace: Palestinians returning home to find total destruction.

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