Hamas freed the last living Israeli hostages from Gaza on Monday under a ceasefire deal and Israel sent home busloads of Palestinian detainees, as US President Donald Trump told Israel’s parliament that peace had arrived in the Holy Land.

“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 told the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, saying a “long nightmare” for both Israelis and Palestinians was over.

“Now it is time to translate these victories against terrorists on the battlefield into the ultimate prize of peace and prosperity for the entire Middle East,” he said.

Deal with Iran

Trump said the United States is prepared to make a deal with Iran when Tehran is ready.

“We are ready when you are and it will be the best decision that Iran has ever made, and it’s going to happen,” Trump said, referring to a deal with Iran.

“The hand of friendship and cooperation is open. I’m telling you, they (Iran) want to make a deal… it would be great if we could make a deal,” Trump told the Israeli Knesset.

“There’s nothing that would do more good for this part of the world than for Iran’s leaders to renounce terrorists…and finally recognise Israel’s right to existence,” Trump said.

Pardon for Netanyahu

Trump urged Israeli President Isaac Herzog to pardon Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is on trial for corruption.

During a more than one-hour speech, Trump said: “Hey, I have an idea. Mr President, why don’t you give him a pardon? Cigars and some champagne — who the hell cares?” referring to the fraud, bribery and breach of trust charges, which Netanyahu denies.