Trump May Visit Middle East as Gaza Negotiations Near Deal
Donald Trump has suggested he could travel to the Middle East by the end of the week, stating that ongoing discussions in Egypt to resolve the two-year conflict in Gaza were nearing an agreement.
The U.S. president mentioned the possibility of a trip on Saturday or Sunday while praising the potential for a breakthrough that could bring stability to the region.
“It’s very close, they’re doing very well,” Trump said on Wednesday evening. “It’s something I think will happen—there’s a good chance. The talks are progressing well.”
Representatives from the U.S., Qatar, and Turkey participated in a third day of indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas in Egypt.
Steve Witkoff, the U.S. Middle East envoy, and Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, arrived in Sharm el-Sheikh for the discussions. The Qatari prime minister and the head of Turkish intelligence also attended the meetings in the Egyptian resort city.
The involvement of high-ranking officials from these nations raised hopes that an agreement might be possible, though key differences between the two sides remain unresolved.
“We’ve made good progress today,” said U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington. “Things are moving positively, but more work is needed.”
Hamas has demanded assurances that Israel will not restart military operations in Gaza after the group releases all remaining hostages, both living and deceased, captured during its October 2023 offensive—a major point of leverage in the talks.
In mid-March, Israel broke a temporary ceasefire by resuming strikes in Gaza and refusing to advance to further negotiations that could have ended the war.
In an Egyptian television interview, Khalil al-Hayya, a senior Hamas official leading the Palestinian delegation, emphasized the need for firm commitments from Trump that hostilities would not resume.
Hamas has reportedly agreed to parts of Trump’s proposed 20-point plan, including hostage releases in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, relinquishing control of Gaza, and an Israeli withdrawal. However, other aspects of the deal remain under discussion.
Outstanding issues include Hamas’ disarmament, the timeline for Israeli troop withdrawal, and the structure of an international body to oversee Gaza.
Details of a prisoner exchange still require finalization. Taher al-Nounou, a Hamas official, confirmed that mediators had received a list of Palestinian detainees the group wants freed.
Meanwhile, Israeli media reports indicate that hardline members of the government have pressured Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to prevent the release of certain prisoners, such as Marwan Barghouti, whom some view as a potential Palestinian leader.
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