President Donald Trump announced his plans to travel to Cairo and Jerusalem to usher in an agreement that halted fighting in Gaza and paves the way for Hamas to release hostages the militant group is holding.
Trump told reporters on Friday that he would meet with “many leaders from around the world” who had been invited to visit Cairo for a ceremony honoring an agreement between Israel and Hamas that would include a ceasefire and the release of hostages.
The president said he also planned to address the Knesset in Israel to mark the deal, which could mark the end of a two-year conflict that has devastated Gaza and stoked tensions across the region. Trump expressed optimism that the ceasefire would hold and the area could be rebuilt.
“I think it will hold. They're all tired of fighting,” Trump said.
The deal was reached after negotiations between the US, Egypt, Qatar and Turkey to hammer out the terms of a 20-point peace plan that Trump unveiled last week.
Previously: Israel says Gaza ceasefire is now in effect after hostage deal
The deal is expected to free Hamas about 20 people still alive during the October 2023 attacks, as well as the remains of more than 20 people killed in captivity. Israel would release nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners while resuming aid to Gaza. Israel said a ceasefire is in effect from Thursday.
However, talks are likely to continue on other outstanding issues, including the reconstruction and future governance of Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has demanded Hamas, designated a terrorist organization by the US and the European Union, to disarm itself and play no role in the territory's governance, but the militant group has yet to agree.
Trump indicated he would not stay in the region long because he wanted to return to Washington on Tuesday, where he planned to posthumously award slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk the Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor.
With help from Josh Wingrove.
This article was generated from an automated feed from a news agency without any changes to the text.
