Will Donald Trump visit Gaza?
Is it truly possible for Donald Trump to visit Gaza? And what would it mean for an American president to set foot in a territory devastated by years of conflict?
President Donald Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One, en route to Israel, that he had received “verbal guarantees” ensuring that the Gaza agreement reached last week “will not fail.” He also expressed his desire to visit the Palestinian enclave one day.
Trump declared that the war in Gaza “is over,” showing confidence in the durability of the ceasefire and the prisoner-exchange arrangement that accompanied it.
Last February, Trump had envisioned turning Gaza into what he called “the Riviera of the Middle East.” However, his tone has now become far more cautious.
“I haven’t heard anything good about that Riviera lately,” he said. “It’s terrible — more like a demolition site.” Still, he added, “I’d like to set foot there someday, at least once.” These remarks were reported by The Washington Post.
Trump also pledged to swiftly establish a new “Peace Council” under his leadership, dedicated to Gaza’s reconstruction and governance.
The two-year Israeli-Palestinian war has left much of Gaza in ruins. The enclave’s nearly two million residents continue to endure dire humanitarian conditions.
Under the new agreement, Israel has agreed to reopen five border crossings to allow food and essential supplies into Gaza, where several areas are suffering from famine.
Trump’s statements came just hours after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Israel’s military campaign “is not yet over,” warning of unspecified “major security challenges” ahead.
Nevertheless, despite Netanyahu’s reservations and the fact that the Israeli government only approved “the first phase” of Trump’s plan — without officially declaring the war’s end — the U.S. president insisted that the Gaza conflict “is now a thing of the past,” according to The Times of Israel.
Speaking about the ceasefire, which came into effect on Friday, three days after the second anniversary of the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack that ignited the war, Trump said: “I think it will hold. I believe people are tired of it.”
He confirmed receiving “assurances” from Israel, Hamas, and other key regional players regarding the first stage of the deal and the upcoming phases that remain to be finalized.
“We have a lot of verbal guarantees,” he added, “and I don’t think they want to disappoint me.”
Trump briefly commented on his relationship with Netanyahu, describing it as “very good,” while acknowledging “a few differences.”
His visit to Israel is expected to be short — about four hours — including meetings with hostage families, discussions with Netanyahu, and an address before the Knesset.
This would make Trump the fourth U.S. president to speak before the Israeli parliament, following Jimmy Carter in 1979, Bill Clinton in 1994, and George W. Bush in 2008.
After his brief stay in Israel, Trump will head to Egypt, where he will co-host a summit with President Abdel Fattah al-Sissi, gathering over twenty world leaders to support his plan to end the Gaza war and strengthen peace in the Middle East. Neither Israel nor Hamas will be officially represented at the event.
