WASHINGTON: Former U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he may travel to the Middle East as soon as this weekend, amid growing optimism over a potential Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal.
Speaking at a White House event, Trump revealed that he had just been briefed by his negotiating team working in Egypt and indicated a major breakthrough could be imminent. “It’s something I think that will happen — got a good chance of happening,” Trump said. “A deal is very close.”
Negotiators from the U.S., Israel, and key regional players are currently meeting in the Egyptian resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh to finalize a deal that would exchange hostages held by Hamas for Palestinian prisoners and pave the way for a ceasefire in Gaza.
Trump's 20-point peace proposal has reportedly gained more traction than previous efforts, with all sides now increasing their diplomatic presence. Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, a trusted aide to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, along with Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, joined the negotiations this week.
Their arrival signals a shift toward a possible final phase in the talks. According to sources, Hamas has submitted its list of Israeli hostages to be exchanged, while Israel has provided a list of Palestinian detainees to be freed.
Also present at the talks is Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, a key mediator in previous regional conflicts.
Egyptian officials say this is the most promising moment since the conflict escalated, with the prospect of ending months of violence and humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Trump said he would consider flying to the region on Saturday if the deal is sealed in the coming days.
The indirect talks, ongoing since Monday, mark the highest-level engagement yet, with regional and global players pushing hard for a resolution.
