US President Donald Trump on Monday was greeted with a thunderous applause and a standing ovation by Israeli lawmakers as he arrived at a special session of the Knesset following the release of 20 hostages by Hamas, earlier in the day.

"This is the historic dawn of a new Middle East. After so many years of unceasing war and endless danger, today, the skies are calm, the guns are silent, the sirens are still, and the sun rises on a Holy Land that is finally at peace,” Trump said.