Egyptian President Abdel Fatah El Sisi also said Wednesday that the messages he had received out of the talks in Sharm el-Sheikh were "very encouraging."

Israel and Hamas have agreed to the “first phase” of his plan to pause fighting and release at least some hostages and prisoners, U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday.

The announcement comes days after President Trump presented a 20-point peace plan aimed at ending the war in Gaza.

President Donald Trump reveals Middle East peace deal negotiations involving U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in Egypt have reached successful conclusion.

Israel agreed to withdraw troops and all Israeli hostages will be released, the US president says, although timings remain unclear.

"I may go there sometime toward the end of the week," President Trump said of a possible trip to the Middle East.

President Trump is set to meet Tuesday with Edan Alexander, an Israeli-American who had been held hostage by Hamas for 19 months, to mark two years since the attacks in Israel that killed hundreds. Trump’s public schedule lists a meeting with Alexander in the Oval Office that will be closed to the press.

• US special envoy Steve Witkoff, US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and Israel’s chief negotiator Ron Dermer are taking part in an “expanded meeting” in Egypt today to end the war in Gaza, according to Egyptian state-affiliated TV.