Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that he will travel to Egypt to attend a formal signing ceremony for the newly brokered ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. The visit is expected to take place early next week, coinciding with the anticipated release of hostages held by Hamas and the phased implementation of a long-awaited truce.
“We’ve ended the war in Gaza,” President Trump told reporters in Washington. “We expect the hostages to be returned on Monday or Tuesday. That day will be a happy one.”
President Trump confirmed that preparations are underway for a regional visit, with Egypt as the central stop for a formal signing of the ceasefire agreement.
“We’re working on finalizing the timing, but we’re planning to head to Egypt for the official signing,” he said.
President Sisi: President Trump Deserves Nobel Peace Prize
The announcement came just hours after a phone call between President Trump and President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, during which President Sisi congratulated the former U.S. president on what he described as a major diplomatic breakthrough.
According to a statement from Egypt’s presidential office, President Sisi expressed deep appreciation for President Trump’s personal role in ending the war in Gaza and hailed the agreement as a “historic achievement.” The Egyptian leader also commended President Trump’s commitment to regional peace and emphasized the importance of sustained U.S. involvement in ensuring the deal is fully implemented.
“President Trump deserves, and has truly earned, the Nobel Peace Prize for this effort,” President Sisi said during the call, according to the Egyptian presidential spokesperson, Ambassador Mohamed El-Shennawy.
President Trump, for his part, emphasized his satisfaction with the outcome and his strong personal rapport with President Sisi. He acknowledged Egypt’s pivotal role in the negotiations, particularly during the final talks held in Sharm el-Sheikh, which drew international attention in recent days.
Invitation to Cairo for Historic Ceremony
President Sisi extended an official invitation to President Trump to attend a ceremonial signing of the ceasefire agreement in Cairo, a gesture that the U.S. leader welcomed.
“I look forward to visiting Egypt, a country I deeply respect and admire,” President Trump said in response, adding that he views the invitation as a great honor.
According to Egyptian officials, the upcoming event is expected to celebrate what they are calling “a historic agreement” that culminates months of intensive diplomacy involving Egypt, the United States, and other key mediators including Qatar and Turkey.
El-Shennawy added that President Sisi reaffirmed Egypt’s commitment to seeing the ceasefire agreement through all its phases and stressed the importance of continued U.S. sponsorship to guarantee full implementation, including the cessation of hostilities, humanitarian aid deliveries, and the release of hostages and prisoners.
A Diplomatic Turning Point
The ceasefire agreement brokered primarily through the efforts of the Trump administration, has already drawn wide international praise, with global leaders from Europe, the United Nations, and the Middle East welcoming the deal as a vital step toward stability in the region.
With President Trump’s visit to Egypt on the horizon, and the first phase of the ceasefire now being rolled out, the focus shifts to execution. Both leaders have described the agreement as a chance to open a new chapter, not only in the long-running Israeli-Palestinian conflict but in broader U.S.-Arab cooperation.
As preparations for the official signing unfold, observers say the symbolic significance of President Trump’s visit to Cairo could reinforce a rare moment of unity in a region long divided by war and mistrust.
