Trump gives details on trip to Israel and Egypt as Hamas set to free hostages following ceasefire

President Donald Trump gave new details Friday afternoon of his plans for his upcoming Middle East trip related to the implementation of his 20-point peace plan. 

He told members of the press gathered in the Oval Office that he will be speaking to Israel’s Knesset and then will go to Cairo while Hamas is scheduled to release the final 20 living Israeli hostages. 

Hamas originally killed about 1,200 people in its terrorist attack on October 7, 2023, and took 251 people hostage. There are believed to be a total of 48 remaining hostages, though only 20 are believed to be alive. 

“I’ll be going to Israel. I’ll be speaking at the Knesset, I think early on, and then I’m also going to Egypt. They were terrific,” Trump told reporters.

He is expected to take part in a formal peace-deal signing while in Cairo, Egypt, which will formalize the first phase of implementation of his 20-point peace plan, according to the New York Post. 

“Gaza is going to be rebuilt,” Trump said. He referred to the financing coming from wealthy Arab countries. 

Trump also said that he will oversee reconstruction of Gaza in the role of chairman of the “Board of Peace” and also be in charge of monitoring the eventual transitional Palestinian government.

“We’re also setting up, as you know, a Board of Peace,” Trump said.

“It’s called the Board of Peace. I don’t know if that’s the final name, but the word ‘peace’ is definitely in there. They have asked me if I chair it. We’ll make sure things go well.”

Trump said he got Hamas to go along with the deal because “I spoke a little bit tough… they knew the retribution would be tremendous, unsustainable… It would have been complete obliteration.”