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President Donald Trump announced his plan to travel to Cairo and Jerusalem to announce a deal that has halted fighting in Gaza and set the stage for Hamas to release hostages the terrorist group is holding.
Trump told reporters on Friday he would meet with “a number of leaders from around the world” who had been invited to come to Cairo for a ceremony celebrating a deal between Israel and Hamas that would see a ceasefire and the release of hostages.
The president said he also planned to address the Knesset in Israel to mark the agreement, which could signal the end of a two-year conflict that has devastated Gaza and stoked tensions across the region. Trump expressed hope that the ceasefire would hold and the area could be rebuilt.
“I think it’s going to last. They’re all tired of fighting,” Trump said.
The deal was secured after talks brokered by the US, Egypt, Qatar and Turkey to meet the terms of a 20-point peace plan unveiled by Trump last week.
Earlier: Israel says Gaza ceasefire now in effect after hostage deal
The agreement is expected to see Hamas free about 20 people captured during the October 2023 attacks who are still alive, as well as the remains of more than two dozen people who died in captivity. Israel will release about 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, while aid to Gaza will be resumed. Israel said the ceasefire was effective from Thursday.
Nevertheless, talks are likely to continue on other unresolved issues, including Gaza’s reconstruction and future governance. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has demanded that Hamas, declared a terrorist organization by the US and EU, disarm and have no role in governing the territory, but the militant group has not yet agreed.
Trump indicated he would not spend long in the area because he wanted to return to Washington by Tuesday, when he planned to posthumously award the Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, to slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
With assistance from Josh Wingrove.
This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without any modifications to the text.
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