Media: Trump may fly to Israel to “celebrate” end of war and hostage release

Israel and the White House have launched initial preparations for a possible visit by US President Donald Trump to Israel, should an agreement be reached to end the war and secure the release of hostages, the Ynet news portal reported.

Earlier, Washington had considered the possibility of Trump’s visit to Israel during his trip to the United Kingdom, but after the proposed deal collapsed, the visit was cancelled. Now, discussions on reviving the plan have resumed. According to officials in Jerusalem, Trump is expected to want to personally “celebrate” the achievement of ending the conflict and bringing the hostages home.

The situation remains tied to the ongoing negotiations in Egypt’s Sharm el-Sheikh, where, according to sources, the atmosphere is increasingly positive.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said he is “very optimistic” about the prospects of reaching an agreement. He extended an invitation to Trump to attend the potential signing ceremony in Egypt, emphasising that the American leader had “sent his representatives with the clear objective of ending the war.”

Al-Sisi stressed that Egypt continues to work tirelessly to end the fighting in Gaza, adding defiantly, “No one can threaten Egypt. We will meet any challenge.”

Trump, meanwhile, has repeatedly highlighted the large demonstrations across Israel demanding the release of hostages, noting that many Israelis believe only he can bring them home. The US president has often stated that he enjoys strong support in Israel — even boasting that he could easily win the country’s prime ministerial elections.

Reaffirming his optimism in recent remarks from the Oval Office, Trump told reporters: “We have a great chance. I really believe it’s going to happen.” He added, “The Israelis want it; thousands of people are taking to the streets to get the hostages back.”

The president also suggested that “even Hamas seems ready for an agreement” and revealed that the US had received a “clear signal” from Iran expressing its desire to end the war. “This has never happened before — all the countries in the region are on our side. It’s no longer just about Gaza, it’s about peace in the Middle East,” Trump said.

He also noted that the leaders of Türkiye, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia are actively supporting the process, describing President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan as “a strong leader who is trusted by Hamas.”

Trump rejected media reports claiming that he had urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to “stop being pessimistic” about the negotiations. “He is very positive. Israel is a wonderful country,” Trump said.

Talks in Sharm el-Sheikh resumed this morning, centred on an American proposal to end the war and secure the release of all hostages. Behind closed doors, discussions continue over the lists of Palestinian prisoners that Hamas insists must be included in the exchange.

By Tamilla Hasanova