Trump says he “may head” to the Middle East this weekend amid peace talks

Washington – President Trump said he “might go” to the Middle East, specifically Egypt, this weekend as his top negotiators seek to broker a peace deal between Hamas and Israel. The president also said he “might” go to Gaza.

Trump said on Wednesday that if negotiations go well, he and his team “will probably leave on Sunday, maybe Saturday.” Special Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, are in Egypt for indirect peace talks and participated in meetings on Wednesday, a White House official said.

The current negotiations revolve around: A 20-point peace proposal Which was revealed by Mr. Trump at the White House during a press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu late last month.

“I might go there sometime toward the end of the week, maybe Sunday, and we’ll see,” the president said during a White House roundtable on Friday. Antifa. “But there is a very good chance. The negotiations are going very well. We are dealing with Hamas and many countries.”

He added: “Our final negotiations, as you know, are with Hamas.” “And things seem to be going well. So we’ll let you know. If so, we’ll probably leave on Sunday, maybe Saturday, maybe a little later than Saturday evening, but that seems to be our schedule.”

The president said that he would “most likely go to Egypt.”

Egypt and Qatar act as mediators between Israel and Hamas in the region Indirect conversationsWhich is held in the Egyptian resort of Sharm El Sheikh.

The president also said he “might” go to Gaza as part of a Middle East tour.

“Yes, I will do that,” the president said when asked if he would consider going to Gaza. “I will. Maybe I will. Maybe I will. We haven’t decided exactly yet. I’ll probably go to Egypt.”

The president urged negotiators to “move quickly.” Hamas said on Friday that it had accepted some elements of the US-led peace proposal. The first phase of the plan stipulates that Hamas will release the remaining hostages, living and dead, within 72 hours. Featured on Tuesday Two years Since Hamas launched its terrorist attack on Israel, in which about 1,200 people were killed and about 251 civilians were kidnapped, including children.

Without sweeping changes, a presidential trip abroad to deal with foreign policy this weekend will come amid the federal crisis Government shutdown. The House is out of session, and the Senate has been unable to pass legislation to reopen the government.

Lucia I Suarez sang and

Olivia Rinaldi

She contributed to this report.