US president: Phase two of Gaza peace talks has begun

SHARM EL-SHEIKH, Egypt (MNTV) – US President Donald Trump said on Monday that the second phase of negotiations between Israel and Hamas has effectively begun following the ceasefire and hostage release deal.

“It’s started, as far as we’re concerned, phase two has started,” Trump told reporters when asked about the talks. He added that the different stages were “a little bit mixed in with each other,” noting that “they’re going to start cleaning up — you look at Gaza, it needs a lot of clean-up.”

Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi co-hosted a summit in Sharm el-Sheikh attended by more than two dozen world leaders to outline steps for lasting peace and to ensure implementation of the current deal.

El-Sissi praised Trump’s role in pushing for an end to the conflict, saying, “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.”

Trump commended the Egyptian leader’s efforts, saying el-Sissi “had a very important role with Hamas” and that “Hamas respects this country and the leadership of Egypt.”

The US president called it “a tremendous day for the Middle East” as regional leaders signed a declaration to formalize the ceasefire, following a major prisoner exchange between Israel and Hamas.

Before the signing, Trump said the document would “spell out rules and regulations and lots of other things,” emphasizing that “it’s going to hold up.”

Hamas on Monday released the last 20 surviving hostages it had held for two years, while Israel freed 1,968 mostly Palestinian prisoners, according to Israel’s prison service.