Trump to Visit Egypt Next Week for Gaza Ceasefire Celebration, Says US Envoy

CAIRO, Oct 9: US President Donald Trump is scheduled to travel to Egypt next week following an official invitation from Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi to attend celebrations marking the Gaza ceasefire agreement, US envoy Steve Witkoff announced on Thursday.

“The President is really excited to come to Egypt, and that is the plan  that he comes next week,” Witkoff said during a meeting with President El-Sisi in Cairo. The meeting video was released by the Egyptian presidency earlier in the day.

According to a statement from El-Sisi’s office, the Egyptian leader invited Trump to “participate in the celebration to be held in Egypt to mark the conclusion of the agreement for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.”

The ceasefire deal brokered with Egypt’s mediation and supported by the United States marks a major diplomatic breakthrough after months of deadly conflict between Israel and Hamas. The first phase of the agreement was signed during talks in Cairo earlier this week.

Under the terms of the deal, both sides agreed to halt hostilities and conduct a mutual exchange: Hamas will release hostages held in Gaza, while Israel will free hundreds of Palestinian prisoners from its jails.

Israeli officials confirmed that the ceasefire is set to take effect within 24 hours of the country’s security cabinet meeting on Thursday night.

Regional analysts say Trump’s visit to Egypt underscores Washington’s effort to reassert its diplomatic influence in the Middle East and to highlight cooperation with Cairo in achieving one of the most significant truce agreements in recent years.

— Voice of Malaysia News