In a major diplomatic development, US President Donald Trump has announced plans to visit Egypt and Israel following the newly brokered ceasefire agreement in Gaza, a deal that has brought a two-year-long conflict closer to resolution.
Trump confirmed on Friday that he will travel to Cairo and Jerusalem to participate in events marking the formal implementation of the peace accord. The visit, according to officials, aims to reinforce the United States’ role in facilitating the ceasefire and to accelerate discussions on Gaza’s reconstruction and future governance.
“I think it will hold. They’re all tired of the fighting,” President Trump said, expressing optimism that the truce will endure and the rebuilding of Gaza will begin soon.
According to a Bloomberg report, leaders from multiple nations have been invited to Cairo for a ceremonial event celebrating the peace deal between Israel and Hamas. Trump is expected to meet “a lot of leaders from all over the world” during the visit and will also deliver an address to the Knesset, Israel’s unicameral legislature, symbolizing a new phase of diplomatic engagement in the region.
The agreement finalized after weeks of negotiations mediated by the United States, Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey is based on a 20-point peace framework introduced by Trump earlier this month.
Under the ceasefire terms, Hamas is set to release around 20 hostages taken during its October 7, 2023, assault on Israel, along with the remains of more than two dozen captives who died in detention. In return, Israel will release nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, while humanitarian aid and essential supplies are expected to begin flowing back into Gaza, signaling the start of a long road to recovery.
Talks will continue on the future administration and rebuilding of Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted that Hamas must disarm and play no role in the post-conflict governance of the territory a condition yet to be accepted by the militant group. Despite uncertainties, diplomatic observers view the ceasefire as a crucial first step toward stability in the war-torn region, with cautious hope that international cooperation can help prevent a relapse into violence.
The White House confirmed that President Trump’s Middle East visit will be brief, as he is scheduled to return to Washington by Tuesday to posthumously award conservative activist Charlie Kirk the Medal of Freedom, the United States’ highest civilian honor.
