He conveys a sense of hope regarding the reconstruction of Gaza and the sustainability of the ceasefire, while discussions regarding future governance are ongoing.
On Friday, US President Donald Trump announced his intention to visit Cairo and Jerusalem ahead of the agreement that halted the strikes on Gaza and facilitated Hamas’s release of hostages.
Trump mentioned that he would be meeting with numerous leaders from around the globe who have been invited to Cairo for a ceremony commemorating the deal between Israel and Hamas, according to a report by Bloomberg.
Additionally, the president intends to address the Knesset, Israel’s unicameral legislature, to celebrate the agreement, which is anticipated to bring an end to the two-year armed conflict in the region.
Trump expressed confidence that the ceasefire would be maintained and that Gaza could be reconstructed. “I believe it will hold. Everyone is weary of the fighting,” he stated.
The agreement was reached following negotiations facilitated by the US, Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey to finalize the terms of a 20-point peace plan that Trump had introduced the previous week, the report noted.
The president indicated that his stay in the region would be brief, as he must return to Washington by Tuesday, where he is set to posthumously bestow the Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor in the United States, upon the late conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Hostages to be released
As Israel announced that the ceasefire is effective as of Thursday, Hamas is anticipated to release approximately 20 individuals that it had taken hostage during its assault on Israel on October 7, 2023, along with the remains of over two dozen who perished in captivity.
Israel will also free nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, and aid to Gaza will be reinstated.
Building Gaza again
Discussions regarding unresolved matters, including the reconstruction and future governance of Gaza, are expected to persist over time.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted that Hamas, which is classified as a terrorist organization by the US and European Union, must disarm and refrain from any role in governing the territory; however, the militant group has yet to consent.
