Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sparked controversy with a post on X following the announcement of the agreement with Hamas to end the Gaza war in the Sharm El-Sheikh agreement. He expressed his belief that U.S. President Donald Trump deserves to win the Nobel Peace Prize, citing the 20-point plan to end the conflict ongoing for over two years.

Netanyahu wrote on the social media platform X: “Give Trump the Nobel Peace Prize – he deserves it!” The post included an AI-generated image showing Trump raising his arms smiling, with a crowd applauding and confetti falling from one corner. Trump was depicted wearing a large Nobel Peace Prize medal around his neck, with a sign behind them reading: “Peace through strength.”

On Wednesday, Trump announced that Israel and Hamas signed the first phase of his peace plan and said in a post: “This means all hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will withdraw its forces to an agreed line as initial steps toward a strong and lasting peace that treats all parties fairly!”

Trump also indicated he might travel to the Middle East at the end of this week to oversee the ceasefire agreement, stating that the remaining hostages captured on October 7, 2023, could return home by Monday or Tuesday.

Other allies of the general commander echoed Netanyahu’s opinion online, including Argentine President Javier Milei, who wrote on Wednesday: “I would like to take this opportunity to announce that I will sign Trump’s nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize, in recognition of his exceptional contribution to international peace.” He added: “Any other leader with similar achievements would have received it long ago. Long live freedom, damn it!!!”

This is not the first time Netanyahu has nominated Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize. During a visit to the White House in July, he presented a letter nominating the president for the prize after facilitating a ceasefire between Israel and Iran.

Netanyahu said then: “The president seized a great opportunity, he made the Abraham Accords and is now establishing peace country by country and region by region.” He added: “So, I would like to present to you, Mr. President, the letter I sent to the Nobel Prize committee. It nominates you for the Peace Prize, a prize you truly deserve.” Trump thanked Netanyahu as he accepted the letter.

The moment of truth for Trump as a global peacemaker will come on Friday morning with the official awarding of the prize. The president had previously indicated that not winning would be an “insult.”