U.S. President Donald Trump said Thursday he expected to travel to the Middle East on Sunday to celebrate the Gaza cease-fire deal, shortly after describing it as an "incredible day" made possible with the help of key regional leaders, including Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
His remarks came hours after Israel and Palestinian resistance group Hamas agreed to the long-awaited cease-fire and hostage agreement that marks the first phase of Trump's plan to end the Gaza war that has killed more than 67,000 people and reshaped the Middle East.
Speaking at the White House, Trump said the agreement had "ended the war in Gaza." He added that "nobody's going to be forced to leave" the Palestinian territory under his 20-point peace plan, which formed the basis for indirect negotiations between Hamas and Israel in Egypt.
The peace deal will see a cease-fire and an exchange of hostages held in Gaza for Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.
Trump said he hoped to travel to Israel, where he may address parliament, and maybe to Egypt. "The hostages will be coming back Monday or Tuesday. I'll probably be there, I hope to be there," he told reporters in the Oval Office.
