US President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that he may travel to the Middle East later this week, following reports of “encouraging” progress in negotiations aimed at ending the Gaza war.
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump revealed that discussions in Egypt’s Sharm El-Sheikh resort centered on his 20-point peace proposal were advancing positively. “Negotiations are going along very well,” he said. “I may go there sometime toward the end of the week, maybe on Sunday,” he added, noting that Egypt was the most likely destination but that he might also consider visiting Gaza.
“‘Peace for the Middle East,’ that’s a beautiful phrase, and we hope it’s going to come true,” Trump said.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who invited Trump to visit Egypt if a deal is reached, also described the ongoing talks as “encouraging.” Hamas, on its part, expressed “optimism” over the progress of the indirect negotiations with Israel.
Trump’s plan calls for a ceasefire, the release of all hostages held in Gaza, Hamas’s disarmament, and a gradual Israeli withdrawal from the territory. Both sides have responded positively to the proposal.
Footage aired by Egyptian media showed Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff arriving at the talks.
In southern Gaza’s Al-Mawasi area, the atmosphere was one of cautious hope. “We want the war to end as soon as possible,” said 50-year-old Mohammed Zamlot, a displaced resident from northern Gaza. “We’re closely following every bit of news about the negotiations and the ceasefire.”
Senior Hamas official Taher al-Nunu told AFP that mediators were “making great efforts to remove any obstacles” to the ceasefire’s implementation and that “a spirit of optimism prevails.” Hamas has reportedly submitted a list of Palestinian prisoners it wants freed in exchange for the release of the remaining 47 hostages taken during the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel.
Wednesday’s talks also drew participation from Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin, while delegations from Islamic Jihad and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine were expected to join.
The negotiations coincide with the second anniversary of the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack, which killed 1,219 people and led to 251 hostages being taken into Gaza. According to Gaza’s health ministry, Israel’s subsequent military campaign has killed at least 67,183 people, more than half of them women and children, figures the UN deems credible.
Despite ongoing airstrikes, global calls for peace have intensified amid widespread devastation, a UN-declared famine, and continued suffering of both hostages and displaced families.
Hamas’s negotiators are reportedly pushing for the release of high-profile Palestinian leader Marwan Barghouti, who has been imprisoned in Israel since 2002. Widely popular among Palestinians, Barghouti has often been described as the “Palestinian Mandela.”
Hamas’s top negotiator, Khalil al-Hayya, said the group seeks “guarantees from President Trump and the sponsor countries that the war will end once and for all.”
Trump confirmed that the US remains closely involved in the mediation efforts. “Our final negotiation, as you know, is with Hamas, and it seems to be going well,” he said.
What you should know
Donald Trump’s 20-point peace plan has brought renewed momentum to the long-stalled Middle East peace process.
If successful, his visit to Egypt could mark a historic turning point in efforts to end the devastating Gaza conflict and stabilize the region.
