Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets with US President Donald Trump during a meeting in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, DC, Sept. 15, 2020. Photo: REUTERS/Tom Brenner

Israeli leaders congratulated Donald Trump as he took the oath of office on Monday to become the next president of the United States, praising his support for Israel and efforts to secure the return of the remaining hostages being held by Hamas in Gaza.

“Your first term as president was filled with groundbreaking moments in the history of the great alliance between our two countries,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement addressing Trump’s inauguration.

The Israeli premier then listed some of the policies that the US implemented when Trump served as president from 2017-2021.

“You withdrew from the dangerous Iran nuclear deal, you recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, you moved the American embassy to Jerusalem, and you recognized Israel’s sovereignty over the Golan Heights. You brokered the historic Abraham Accords in which Israel made peace with four Arab countries,” he continued.

Netanyahu also expressed optimism about the future of the US-Israel alliance and thanked Trump for his push to reach a ceasefire to halt fighting between Israel and Hamas in Gaza and secure the release of some of the Israeli hostages still being held by the Palestinian terrorist group.

“I believe that working together again we will raise the US-Israel alliance to even greater heights. I’m confident that we will complete the defeat of Iran’s terror axis and usher in a new era of peace and prosperity for our region,” Netanyahu said. “On behalf of the people of Israel, I also want to thank you for your efforts in helping free Israeli hostages. I look forward to working with you to return the remaining hostages, to destroy Hamas’s military capabilities and end its political rule in Gaza, and to ensure that Gaza never again poses a threat to Israel. I am sure, Mr. President, that under your leadership, the best days of our alliance are yet to come.”

Israeli President Isaac Herzog also congratulated Trump in a post on social media, thanking the new US president for supporting the Jewish state and helping to secure the Gaza ceasefire and hostage-release deal.

“On behalf of the people of Israel, I send my heartfelt congratulations to you, President @realDonaldTrump on your inauguration as the 47th @POTUS. You are a true friend of Israel. Thank you for your unwavering commitment to Israel’s security and to building a better future for our region. A special thank you for your commitment to bringing all our hostages home,” he posted. “We wish you and your administration great success in your service to the American people. Good luck!”

Many observers have argued that Trump’s pressure on Hamas in public and on Israel behind closed doors to reach a ceasefire helped to bring both sides across the finish line.

Last week, both sides agreed to a three-phase deal that halts fighting in Gaza, and if fully implemented, would stop the war entirely. Under the first phase, Hamas is set to release 33 hostages — women, children, and elderly men — over the next six weeks in exchange for Israel releasing nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, who were largely detained for involvement in terrorist activity. Top officials in the new Trump administration have said in recent weeks that the US will support Israel renewing military operations in Gaza if Hamas launches more attacks against the Jewish state and violates the agreement.

The ceasefire began on Sunday, when Hamas released three female Israeli civilian hostages.

“I’m pleased to say that, as of yesterday, one day before I assumed office, the hostages in the Middle East are coming back home to their families,” Trump said during his inaugural address on Monday, prompting a standing ovation from the audience.

Trump also said that, while he intends to “again build the strongest military the world has ever seen,” his “proudest legacy will be that of a peacemaker and unifier.”

“We will measure our success not only by the battles we win, but also by the wars that we end, and perhaps most importantly, the wars we never get into,” Trump said. “Our power will stop all wars and bring a new spirit of unity to a world that has been angry, violent, and totally unpredictable.”