US President Donald Trump has suggested that American troops could be deployed to police a potential peace deal in Gaza, as negotiations in Egypt appear to be nearing a breakthrough. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Trump expressed optimism about the talks, stating they were 'very close' to reaching an agreement to end the two-year war.
Trump indicated he might travel to the Middle East this weekend, possibly on Saturday or Sunday, to finalise the deal. The president's comments came after Secretary of State Marco Rubio handed him a note during a White House roundtable, which read: 'You need to approve a Truth Social post soon so you can announce deal first.' The note, captured by an Associated Press photographer, also underlined the words 'very close'.
Indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas resumed in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, with US, Qatari, and Turkish officials present. Among them were US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, and Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin. While progress has been reported, significant gaps remain, particularly regarding Hamas's demand for international guarantees that Israel will not resume bombing after hostages are released.
Hamas has agreed to three parts of Trump's 20-point plan: releasing all hostages in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, surrendering power in Gaza, and Israel's withdrawal. However, other points—such as disarmament, the timeline for Israeli troop withdrawal, and the governance structure—still require negotiation. Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya stressed the need for firm guarantees from Trump that the war 'will not return'.
Rightwing members of the Israeli government, including far-right minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, have pressured Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to seek 'complete victory' over Hamas. Meanwhile, militant groups allied with Hamas, including the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, have joined the talks to present a unified front. Both Israel and Hamas have expressed commitment to the success of the negotiations.
