Trump Says He Will Join Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Ceremony in Egypt/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ President Donald Trump announced plans to attend the signing of a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas in Egypt. He credited Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey for helping broker the agreement. The move is being hailed as a potential historic breakthrough and a highlight of Trump’s second term.
Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Peace Deal Quick Looks
- Trump plans to travel to Egypt for the signing ceremony
- Peace deal ends two-year war between Israel and Hamas
- Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey credited with key diplomatic roles
- Hostage families in Tel Aviv react with emotion and relief
- Trump says deal could lead to “everlasting peace”
- NYT: Deal may boost Trump’s Nobel Peace Prize prospects
- Israeli activist Noa Tishby: This reshapes the Middle East
Deep Look
Trump Aims to Attend Historic Egypt Signing of Israel-Hamas Peace Accord
U.S. President Donald Trump announced plans to travel to Egypt on Thursday to participate in the ceremonial signing of a landmark peace agreement between Israel and Hamas. The announcement, made during a cabinet meeting, marks a significant diplomatic move that could signal the end of a devastating two-year conflict in Gaza.
Speaking to reporters, Trump expressed deep appreciation for the diplomatic efforts of Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey, whose involvement he described as “critical” to brokering the long-awaited ceasefire.
“I think it’s going to be a lasting peace, hopefully an everlasting peace,” Trump said confidently.
From Trauma to Celebration: Reactions in Israel
In Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square, a wave of emotion swept through crowds gathered to hear the news. Families of Israeli hostages and victims of the conflict reacted with visible relief and tears, celebrating what they described as a long-overdue turning point.
Daniel Lifshitz, whose grandfather was kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz during Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023 attack and later died in captivity, shared his thoughts.
“I am overjoyed, overwhelmed, happy — all the good feelings in the world,” he said.
He added that his grandfather’s body had only recently been returned for burial in February 2025, bringing some sense of closure to his grieving family.
“When your loved one is a deceased hostage, your soul can’t rest,” Lifshitz said. “Today is a holiday, but we will be here until the last one comes home.”
Trump Announces Key Ceasefire Milestones
In a statement made Wednesday via Truth Social, Trump declared that the first phase of the peace agreement had been finalized. According to the announcement:
- All hostages held by Hamas will be released “very soon”
- Israeli Defense Forces will withdraw to a predetermined line
- Further steps will follow in establishing long-term peace
Trump emphasized that these developments were only the beginning of a broader, durable peace process in the region.
Witkoff and Kushner met with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi
President Donald Trump’s negotiating delegation of special envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner have arrived in Israel after participating in negotiations Wednesday in Egypt, two sources familiar with the matter said.
Earlier Thursday they met with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.
Trump has discussed visiting Israel and Egypt as soon as this weekend as the ceasefire-for-hostages deal comes into effect.
NYT: Could This Be Trump’s Nobel Peace Prize Moment?
The New York Times’ senior correspondent David E. Sanger published a detailed analysis of Trump’s role in the peace deal, calling it potentially “the biggest diplomatic accomplishment of his second term.”
Sanger argued that if the plan holds, it could provide Trump with a legitimate claim to the Nobel Peace Prize, a distinction the former president has long sought.
“Much could go wrong in coming days, and in the Middle East, it often does,” Sanger warned. “But if peace advances, Trump could join the ranks of American presidents who’ve won the Nobel.”
Four American presidents — Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, Jimmy Carter, and Barack Obama — have previously received the award.
Israeli Voices: “A New Middle East”
Israeli actress and activist Noa Tishby, speaking on Fox & Friends, praised the ceasefire agreement, describing it as a transformational moment for the region.
“Trump and Netanyahu have created a new Middle East,” Tishby said. “This is not just another deal — it’s a shift in paradigm.”
She emphasized the significance of a brokered peace between Israel and Hamas, which for decades have been locked in an almost intractable cycle of violence.
Looking Ahead
As Trump prepares for a possible trip to Egypt, international eyes remain focused on whether the ceasefire will hold and if this initiative can truly usher in a lasting peace in one of the world’s most volatile regions. Regardless of political leanings, the development represents a pivotal chapter in Middle Eastern diplomacy and U.S. foreign policy.
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