US President Donald Trump has said he may travel to the Middle East at the end of the week, adding that negotiations in Egypt to end the two-year war in Gaza were “very close” to reaching a deal. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday evening, Trump said: “It’s very close, they’re doing very well. It’s something I think will happen, has a good chance of happening.”
The president’s optimism was bolstered by a handwritten note from Secretary of State Marco Rubio, passed 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, underlined the words “very close”. Trump told reporters: “I was just given a note by the secretary of state saying that we’re very close to a deal in the Middle East, and they’re going to need me pretty quickly.”
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt later said Trump was “considering” travel to the Middle East after a visit to Walter Reed hospital on Friday morning. Meanwhile, US, Qatari and Turkish officials arrived in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, for the third day of indirect talks between Israel and Hamas. The US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner were joined by the Qatari prime minister and the head of Turkish intelligence.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said: “Good progress has been made today. Events are moving in a good direction, but there’s still some work to be done.” Hamas has said it seeks international guarantees that Israel will not resume bombing Gaza after releasing all remaining hostages. Senior Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya said the group needs firm guarantees from Trump that the war “will not return”.
Though Hamas has agreed to three parts of Trump’s 20-point plan—release of all hostages for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, surrendering power, and Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza—other points remain, including disarmament, troop withdrawal logistics, and the makeup of a governing body. Rightwing Israeli ministers have pressured Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to release certain prisoners, such as Marwan Barghouti.
