Trump says deal to end Gaza war ‘very close’

US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that a deal to end the war in Gaza was “very close” and that he could visit Egypt this weekend, as his envoys joined talks in Egypt to try to seal a ceasefire deal and release of hostages.

As Trump’s 20-point plan appears closer than any previous attempt to end the two-year-old conflict, delegations have stepped up their presence at the indirect talks, launched Monday in the Egyptian resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh.

Trump offered an optimistic assessment, saying a deal was almost done and that he could travel to the Middle East this weekend, possibly as early as Saturday, if a deal is reached. He later clarified that he would likely travel to Egypt and that the trip would likely take place before or just after the hostages were released.

“I just got a memo from the secretary of state saying we’re very close to a deal in the Middle East and they’re going to need me pretty quickly,” Trump said at an unrelated White House event.

The hand-scribbled note on White House stationery read: “You must approve a Truth Social publication soon so you can announce a deal first,” the Associated Press later reported. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

It is the most promising effort yet to end the war in Gaza, which has morphed into a regional conflict, drawing in countries like Iran, Yemen and Lebanon, and reshaping the Middle East.

Just a day after the second anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel that sparked Israel’s devastating assault on Gaza, the group’s negotiators handed over its lists of Palestinian hostages and prisoners to be released in an exchange with Israel.

Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, special envoy Steve Witkoff and Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, a close confidant of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, arrived and began participating in negotiations, Israeli and Palestinian sources said.

Qatar’s longtime mediator Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani also joined the discussions, according to Egyptian sources.

Despite hopes being raised about an end to the war, crucial details still need to be ironed out, including the timeline, the post-war administration of the Gaza Strip and the fate of the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

Gaza authorities say more than 67,000 people have been killed and much of the enclave razed since Israel began its military response to the Hamas cross-border attack on October 7, 2023. About 1,200 people have been killed and 251 taken hostage back to Gaza, according to Israeli officials, and 20 of the 48 hostages still being held are believed to be alive.

Talks planned for the next day from Paris

Alongside the Sharm el-Sheikh talks, Arab states and other countries will meet in Paris on Thursday to discuss Gaza’s post-war transition, with Washington likely represented, diplomatic sources said.

Hamas said Wednesday that it had handed over its lists of hostages it was holding and Palestinian prisoners held by Israel that it wanted to exchange, and that it was optimistic about the negotiations so far.

The list of Palestinians Hamas wants to release is expected to include some of the most important prisoners ever imprisoned by Israel, whose release was prohibited under previous ceasefires.

According to a Palestinian source close to the negotiations, the list includes Marwan al-Barghouti, leader of the Fatah movement, and Ahmed Saadat, leader of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. Both are serving multiple life sentences for their involvement in attacks that killed Israelis.

Hamas says indirect negotiations have focused so far on three issues: ending the conflict, withdrawing Israeli forces from Gaza and the swap deal.

The group has so far refused to discuss Israel’s demand that Hamas give up its weapons, a demand the Palestinian source said Hamas would reject as long as Israeli troops occupied Palestinian land.

Two sources close to the negotiations confirmed that sticking points included the Israeli withdrawal mechanism, with Hamas seeking a clear timetable linked to the release of hostages and guarantees of a full withdrawal of Israeli forces.

Israel slows down its offensive

In Gaza, Israel scaled back its military campaign at Trump’s request, but it has not completely stopped its strikes. The Israeli military said its forces killed several militants in Gaza City, Gaza’s main urban center, who it said were on their way to attack Israeli soldiers.

Medical authorities in Gaza reported eight people killed in Israeli strikes in the past 24 hours, the lowest death toll in weeks. The daily death toll has been about 10 times higher over the past month as Israeli forces advance on Gaza City.

“We hope from God that a ceasefire will take place as soon as possible, because people can no longer bear the suffering,” said Jehad al-Shagnobi, whose house was destroyed in Gaza’s Sabra neighborhood.

Another participant in the talks was Turkish spymaster Ibrahim Kalin, Egyptian sources said. This reflects the growing role of Turkey, a NATO member with close contacts with Hamas. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Trump had asked Turkey to help persuade Hamas to accept the deal.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Wednesday that negotiations had made “a lot of progress.”

Arab countries say plan must lead to Palestinian state

Trump’s plan calls for an international body led by Trump and including former British Prime Minister Tony Blair to play a role in the postwar administration of Gaza. Arab countries that support the project say it must lead to the independence of a Palestinian state, which Netanyahu says will never happen.

There is no clear indication who will rule Gaza once the war ends. Netanyahu, Trump, Western and Arab states have ruled out any role for Hamas, which has ruled Gaza since ousting its Palestinian rivals in 2007.

Hamas has said it will relinquish governance of Gaza solely to a technocratic Palestinian government overseen by the Palestinian Authority and supported by Arab and Muslim countries. He rejects any role of Blair or foreign domination in Gaza.

Global outrage grew against the Israeli attack. Several human rights experts, academics and a UN investigation say this amounts to genocide. Israel describes its actions as self-defense after the Hamas attack in 2023.