The second phase of negotiations following the initial cease-fire and hostage release deal between Israel and the Palestinian resistance group Hamas has effectively started, President Donald Trump said Monday.
"It's started, as far as we're concerned, phase two has started," Trump said when asked if it had begun.
"The phases are all a little bit mixed in with each other. They're going to start cleaning up, you look at Gaza. It needs a lot of clean-up," the U.S. president said.
Egypt's President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi and Trump are co-hosting a meeting of more than two dozen world leaders to plot out a course to a lasting peace and ensure the implementation of the current deal.
"I was sure you were the only one, Mr. President, who can end this war... the only one capable of bringing peace to our region," el-Sissi said of Trump.
Trump hailed el-Sissi as they began a summit on Gaza Monday, saying he played a key role in negotiations with Hamas.
As they met in the resort town of Sharm El-Sheikh, Trump told reporters that el-Sissi "had a very important role with Hamas. In fact, the general right here was very instrumental because Hamas respects this country, and they respect the leadership of Egypt."
"So, he played a very important role, I appreciate it very much."
Trump hailed a "tremendous day for the Middle East" as he and regional leaders signed a declaration Monday meant to cement a cease-fire in Gaza, hours after Israel and Hamas exchanged hostages and prisoners.
Trump made a lightning visit to Israel, where he lauded Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu – who is accused of committing genocide in Gaza – in an address to parliament, before flying to Egypt for a Gaza summit where he and the leaders of Egypt, Qatar and Türkiye signed the declaration as guarantors to the Gaza deal.
"This is a tremendous day for the world, it's a tremendous day for the Middle East," Trump said as more than two dozen world leaders sat down to talk in the resort of Sharm el-Sheikh.
"The document is going to spell out rules and regulations and lots of other things," Trump said before signing, repeating twice that "it's going to hold up."
As part of Trump's plan to end the Gaza war, Hamas on Monday freed the last 20 surviving hostages it held after two years of captivity in Gaza.
In exchange, Israel released 1,968 mostly Palestinian hostages held in its jails, its prison service said.
