US President Donald Trump confirmed that negotiations over the past days have led to an agreement to end the war in Gaza, stating he will soon travel to the Middle East.

Trump said the prisoner release operation will take place next Monday or Tuesday, with a signing ceremony for the agreement to be held in Egypt. He expressed gratitude to the leaders of Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey for their assistance in reaching what he called a “wonderful outcome.”

He believes the peace achieved in the Middle East will be sustainable and emphasized that all regional countries agreed on peace. Trump mentioned that Hamas lost about 70,000 people during the war and stressed that the war must stop.

He added that Gaza will be rebuilt with significant financial aid from several countries, and Hamas’s weapons will be disarmed. The hostages will be recovered first, then other matters will be addressed, with optimism that things will go well.

“There will be peace in the Middle East, and we will create a place in Gaza where people can live in better conditions,” Trump said.

Regarding the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, Trump said he has no fixed position on the two-state solution and will go along with whatever is agreed upon.

He also indicated his approval to deliver a speech before the Israeli Knesset if requested by officials there.

Iran Strikes

On another topic, Trump said the recent attack on Iran was “important to reach an agreement on Gaza,” but confirmed that Tehran wants to work towards peace and that the US will cooperate with it.

Trump held a government meeting at the White House to discuss the agreement that will allow prisoner exchanges as part of the first phase of a larger Gaza plan.

Following the meeting and Trump’s statements, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that months ago, “we did not think an agreement like the one President Trump achieved was possible,” adding that “we would not have reached an agreement on Gaza without President Trump’s involvement.”

He confirmed that what happened will pave the way for Gaza to become a livable place and that 20 hostages will be released alive thanks to President Trump.

Source: Al Jazeera