According to images published in US media, the awkward moment was seen when Trump had to interrupt his speech and directed his gaze toward one end of the plenary. Members of the security team were later seen forcibly removing two people from the room.

Reports indicated that Arab legislator Ayman Odeh, leader of the Hadash party, and Ofer Cassif, the only Jewish legislator in the Arab party, were ejected while Trump was speaking. Both were holding the sign advocating recognition of Palestine.

As they were removed from the room and Trump resumed his speech, he joked, “They were efficient.”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had minutes earlier declared Trump the “best friend the State of Israel has ever had in the White House” and appreciated the fact that this was his first trip there since recognizing Jerusalem as its capital (also claimed by the Palestinians) and moving the US embassy to that city.

Trump traveled to the Middle East the day before for the Gaza peace agreement, after announcing the US-brokered ceasefire between Israel and the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas).

After his brief stay in Israel, the US president traveled to the Egyptian city of Sharm El Sheikh, the site of the Middle East Peace Ceremony, which will formalize the Gaza peace agreement. The summit will be attended by nearly twenty world leaders.

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