Trump’s Middle East visit amid historic peace deal

President Donald Trump is set to spend the initial part of the week in the Middle East, overseeing a significant peace agreement between Israel and Hamas. This deal is anticipated to put an end to the two-year conflict in Gaza and facilitate the return of remaining hostages.

Before his departure on Air Force One, Trump informed reporters that the hostages might be released soon, praising Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for his effective negotiation. “The war is over,” he stated at Joint Base Andrews just before embarking on a lengthy flight to Israel.

Upon arrival in Tel Aviv, Trump plans to meet with families of the hostages and later address the Knesset, the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem. Following his time in Israel, he will head to Egypt for an international summit in Sharm el-Sheikh aimed at finalizing a deal regarding the Gaza conflict. Reports indicate that over 20 world leaders are expected to participate in this summit.

After a brief stay in Israel, Trump will attend the memorial for Charlie Kirk upon returning to the U.S. early Tuesday morning. Trump is granting Kirk the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor.

“It’s going to be a very quick trip,” Trump commented, mentioning two significant stops before heading back for Kirk’s recognition celebration at the White House, originally set to align with Kirk’s 32nd birthday on October 14.

Kirk, known for his influential political debates on college campuses, was tragically killed during a rally at Utah Valley University on September 10. This event was part of his organization’s broader tour.

Notably, Kirk’s memorial service drew around 90,000 attendees, marking the largest civilian gathering of its kind in history. During the service, Trump affirmed Kirk’s role in galvanizing young voters, crediting him with contributing to his 2024 election victory.