CAIRO: United States President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that he may travel to the Middle East later this week as peace talks in Egypt show promising signs of progress toward ending the devastating war in Gaza.
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said negotiations between Israel and Hamas — mediated by Egypt and other regional actors — were proceeding well. “Negotiations are going along very well,” he stated. “I may go there sometime toward the end of the week, maybe on Sunday. ‘Peace for the Middle East’ — that’s a beautiful phrase, and we hope it’s going to come true.”
The discussions, taking place in the Egyptian resort city of Sharm El-Sheikh, are based on Trump’s 20-point peace proposal, which serves as the framework for the current diplomatic efforts. The plan includes a comprehensive ceasefire, the release of all hostages held by Hamas, the disarmament of the group, and a gradual Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who has played a central role in mediating the talks, described the atmosphere as “encouraging” and extended an invitation for Trump to visit Egypt if an agreement is reached. Hamas also voiced cautious optimism, saying it welcomed the progress made so far in the indirect negotiations.
According to Al-Qahera News, a media outlet with close ties to Egyptian intelligence, the Wednesday evening sessions had commenced, with Egyptian state-linked media airing footage of Trump’s senior advisers — Jared Kushner and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff — arriving at the venue for discussions.
On the ground in southern Gaza, particularly in the coastal area of Al-Mawasi, scenes of anticipation and hope emerged as night fell. Residents displaced by months of conflict gathered to follow updates from Sharm El-Sheikh. Some chanted “Allahu Akbar” (God is the greatest) and fired celebratory gunshots into the air, reflecting a rare moment of collective optimism.
“We want the war to end as soon as possible,” said Mohammed Zamlot, a 50-year-old displaced resident from northern Gaza. “We’re closely following every bit of news about the negotiations and the ceasefire.”
Meanwhile, senior Hamas official Taher al-Nunu, speaking from Sharm El-Sheikh, confirmed that mediators were working intensively to resolve the remaining obstacles to the deal. “Mediators are making great efforts to remove any obstacles to the implementation of the ceasefire, and a spirit of optimism prevails,” he told AFP.
Hamas has already submitted a list of Palestinian prisoners it wants released from Israeli prisons as part of the first phase of the agreement. The list, Nunu said, follows “the agreed-upon criteria and numbers,” suggesting that detailed negotiations are now focused on implementation timelines and sequencing of steps.
The latest developments mark one of the most significant diplomatic pushes in years to achieve a durable peace in Gaza. If successful, the agreement would not only end a bloody chapter of violence but could also redefine regional alliances — with Egypt emerging as a key mediator and Trump seeking to cement his legacy as a peacemaker in the Middle East.
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