(AFP) – US President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he may go to the Middle East at the end of this week as a peace deal between Israel and Hamas in Gaza is “very close.” Trump said during an event at the White House that he would “go to Egypt most likely” but that he would also consider going to war-torn Gaza.
“I may go there sometime toward the end of the week, maybe on Sunday, actually. And we’ll see, but there is a very good chance. Negotiations are going along very well,” Trump told reporters at the start of the event.
“Our final negotiation, as you know, is with Hamas, and it seems to be going well. So we’ll let you know, if that’s the case, we’ll be leaving probably on Sunday, maybe on Saturday.” Near the end of the meeting, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio unexpectedly entered the room and handed Trump a note. The US president told reporters the note said that “we’re very close to a deal” and that his presence was needed.
“I have to go now to try and solve some problems in the Middle East,” he added. Hamas and Israeli officials are having indirect talks in Egypt on a 20-point peace proposal unveiled by Trump to end the two-year-old war.
– ‘Very close’ – Trump said as he began the event that he had come off the phone with officials in the Middle East, where his special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner had just joined discussions in Egypt.
“‘Peace for the Middle East,’ that’s a beautiful phrase, and we hope it’s going to come true, but it’s very close, and they’re doing very well,” Trump added. “We have a great team over there, great negotiators, and they’re, unfortunately, great negotiators on the other side also. But it’s something I think that will happen.”
Asked if he would consider going to Gaza if a deal happens, Trump replied: “I would, yeah. I would. I might do that. I may do that. We haven’t decided exactly.” Trump said he would insist on the release of hostages held by Hamas before traveling to the region.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said earlier that he had received “encouraging” signs and hailed the support of Trump. Hamas too expressed “optimism” over the indirect discussions with its foe Israel. Trump’s plan calls for a ceasefire, the release of all the hostages held in Gaza, Hamas’s disarmament, and a gradual Israeli withdrawal from the territory.
– Danny KEMP
© 2024 AFP
