U.S. President Donald Trump is set to receive the Israeli Presidential Medal of Honor, the nation’s most prestigious civilian award, for his role in brokering a Gaza ceasefire and securing the release of hostages.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog announced on Monday that Trump would receive the honor, as Israel confirmed that Hamas had released the first group of hostages captured on October 7, 2023.
Newsweek has contacted the White House for comment.
Why It Matters
On Friday, the Nobel Committee named Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado as the recipient of the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, an honor the White House had repeatedly said Trump deserved. Herzog’s announcement places Trump among a select group of global figures recognized by Israel and symbolizes the end of the two-year war in Gaza.
What To Know
In his announcement, Herzog also referred to Trump’s role in establishing the Abraham Accords, which normalized relations between Israel and several Arab nations.
He also noted the U.S.’s “decisive strike on Iran’s nuclear program” in June, which Washington said had destroyed Tehran’s atomic weapons program.
Herzog said Trump’s legacy would be “remembered for generations by the State of Israel and the Jewish people,” and that the U.S. president had shown “commitment to leading the entire region toward an era of peace and cooperation.”
Israel and Hamas are set to carry out a hostage-prisoner exchange as part of the first phase of a 20-point peace plan that Trump proposed.
During a brief visit to Israel on Monday, Trump is expected to meet with families of hostages taken in the Hamas attack and address the Israeli parliament, the Knesset.
Ahead of Trump’s visit, a large sign was placed at the entrance to Jerusalem that featured the president’s portrait on a Nobel Prize medal and the message: “You are our winner! Thank you, Mr. President.”
What People Are Saying
Israeli President Isaac Herzog said in a statement: “The award also notes President Trump’s steadfast and unwavering support for the State of Israel, his unique contribution to Israel’s security and the well-being of its citizens, and his commitment to leading the entire region toward an era of peace and cooperation.”
What Happens Next
Herzog is expected to officially inform Trump of the award when they meet on Monday, with the medal being conferred in the coming months.
