U.S. President Donald Trump mentioned on Wednesday he might journey to Egypt this weekend to finalize a long-awaited Gaza peace deal after President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi publicly invited him to come back to Cairo to signal the settlement if negotiations succeed.
Talking through the Police Academy’s 2025 Commencement Day ceremony, President El-Sisi known as on Trump to go to Egypt “in case of reaching an settlement,” emphasizing the significance of ending the two-year warfare in Gaza and starting reconstruction efforts.
“I invite President Trump to come back to Egypt to signal the settlement to finish the warfare,” El-Sisi mentioned. “The world is ready for an finish to the battle, the discharge of hostages, the supply of humanitarian assist, and the beginning of reconstruction for the folks of Gaza and the West Financial institution.”
El-Sisi famous that Sharm El-Sheikh is at the moment internet hosting negotiations geared toward ending the warfare, with delegations from Egypt, the USA, Qatar, Israel, and Hamas collaborating. He praised Trump’s “real will” to finish the warfare, saying that U.S. envoys had arrived in Egypt on Tuesday carrying a “clear message” and “robust mandate” from the U.S. president to push for an settlement.
U.S. Envoys in Sharm El-Sheikh
El-Sisi confirmed that Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and U.S. Center East Envoy Steve Witkoff are main the American delegation in Sharm El-Sheikh. The Egyptian president mentioned the knowledge he has obtained from the talks is “very encouraging,” describing the envoys’ message as “robust” and “clear.”
“The envoys are carrying a robust message and a transparent mandate from President Trump,” he mentioned.
El-Sisi reiterated Egypt’s dedication to a peaceable decision and known as on all sides to “seize this chance” to finish the warfare, which he described as “a harsh warfare that the area has been affected by for 2 years.”
Shortly after El-Sisi’s speech, Trump advised reporters he might journey to Egypt this weekend, saying negotiators are “very shut” to reaching an settlement, echoing the Egyptian President.
“I’ll depart on Saturday,” Trump mentioned. “They will want me fairly shortly.”
Trump’s feedback got here because the third day of ceasefire negotiations got here to a conclusion in Sharm El-Sheikh, the place delegations are working to finalize particulars of Trump’s 20-point Gaza peace plan. The plan reportedly contains provisions for a ceasefire, the discharge of prisoners, Israel’s withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, and the beginning of reconstruction efforts.
Expanded Negotiations
The talks in Sharm El-Sheikh have expanded to incorporate a number of regional and worldwide stakeholders. Alongside delegations from Egypt, the USA, Qatar, Israel, and Hamas, new members joined the discussions on Wednesday, together with representatives from the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) and the Standard Entrance for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP).
Additionally attending are Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin, and Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer.
An expanded session was held Wednesday morning between Egyptian intelligence officers, the Qatari prime minister, and senior U.S., Turkish, and Israeli envoys following a closed assembly with the Hamas delegation.
The negotiations in Sharm El-Sheikh are anticipated to proceed by means of the week, with sources near the discussions saying progress has been made on key factors however a number of contentious points stay unresolved, together with the safety framework for Gaza’s reconstruction and the long run position of Hamas within the territory.
If the events attain a ultimate settlement, Trump’s potential go to to Egypt would mark probably the most vital step towards reaching peace in Gaza, the place greater than 60,000 Palestinians, largely girls and kids, have been killed by Israel since October 2023.