With Israel-Gaza Peace Deal In Sight, Trump Signals Egypt Visit On Sunday

A potentially historic peace deal aimed at ending the war in Gaza is reportedly nearing completion, with US President Donald Trump signaling he may travel to Egypt as early as this weekend to support final negotiations. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday evening, Trump said the latest round of talks in Egypt has brought negotiations between Israel and Hamas “very close” to a breakthrough. “It’s something I think will happen, has a good chance of happening,” Trump said. “Negotiations are going along very well.”The president suggested that a visit to the region could take place on Saturday or Sunday, with Egypt’s Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh likely to be his first stop. “That’s where everybody is gathered right now, and we appreciate that very much,” he noted, adding that he intends to “make the rounds” if a deal is finalized.High-Level Diplomacy in Sharm el-SheikhThe third day of high-stakes, indirect negotiations is currently underway in Sharm el-Sheikh, involving senior officials from the United States, Qatar, and Turkey. US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump adviser Jared Kushner have joined Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin in pushing for an agreement.Their presence, seen as a major sign of commitment from all sides, has raised hopes that a long-awaited deal might finally be within reach, despite several key issues yet to be resolved.Related News | Tom Barrack Refutes Turkish Opposition Claims Amid SDF-Syria Deal: 'Map I Never Saw, Room I Never Entered'A Handwritten Note and a Hint at Imminent AnnouncementThe strongest sign yet of progress came during a roundtable event at the White House, where Secretary of State Marco Rubio handed Trump a handwritten note reportedly stating that the deal is “very close”. A photograph captured by an AP journalist showed the note with the phrase underlined, along with a request for Trump to approve a Truth Social post announcing the agreement.“I was just given a note by the secretary of state saying that we’re very close to a deal in the Middle East, and they’re going to need me pretty quickly,” Trump said.Key Elements of the Proposed AgreementHamas has reportedly accepted three core elements of Trump’s 20-point plan:The release of all hostages, in exchange for approximately 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.Surrendering control of Gaza.An Israeli withdrawal from the besieged territory.However, negotiations are still ongoing over several contentious points, including:Whether Hamas will disarm.The timeline and method of Israeli troop withdrawal.The structure and oversight of a proposed international technocratic body to govern post-war Gaza.Logistical aspects of the hostage-prisoner swap also remain unresolved. Hamas has submitted a list of Palestinian detainees it wants released, but Israeli hardliners have voiced strong opposition to freeing high-profile figures such as Marwan Barghouti, a potential future Palestinian leader.What’s Next?If the deal is finalized, President Trump is expected to announce it personally, possibly via Truth Social, with a Middle East visit to follow. His presence would serve to both seal the agreement and bolster US credibility as a broker of peace.