Israeli president to award Trump top civilian medal for Gaza hostage deal

Israeli President Isaac Herzog will present U.S. President Donald Trump with the country’s highest civilian honor — the Presidential Medal of Honor — in recognition of Trump’s efforts to secure the release of hostages from the Gaza Strip.

Herzog’s office announced the decision, noting that the award symbolises “President Trump’s unwavering support for Israel, his unique contribution to the security and well-being of its citizens, and his commitment to peace and cooperation in the region,” Caliber.Az reports per Israeli media.

Herzog will formally announce the award during his meeting with Trump at the Israeli parliament on October 13. The medal presentation ceremony will take place in the coming months, with the exact date and venue to be determined later, the press service added.

The announcement highlights Trump’s leadership in brokering a U.S.-mediated ceasefire deal, initiated on October 10, 2025, which facilitated the release of hostages starting with seven on October 13, as part of the "Wings of Freedom" operation. This agreement, aiming to free all 47 remaining hostages (at least 20 believed alive) in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, marks a significant diplomatic breakthrough in the Israel-Hamas conflict that intensified after Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack.

By Khagan Isayev