US President Donald Trump said the Gaza peace agreement "may be the greatest achievement I have ever been involved in."
In a phone interview with Axios conducted aboard Air Force One while en route to Israel, Trump explained that this agreement represents a milestone in his political career, noting that it comes at a time when Israel is preparing to receive the last twenty living hostages still being held by Hamas.
He added that his peace plan would put an end to a war that has claimed the lives of more than 67,000 Palestinians, according to the Ministry of Health in Gaza.
Trump is scheduled to deliver a speech to the Israeli Knesset on Monday morning, where he said his message to the Israeli people will be simply, "Love and peace forever."
During his brief visit to Israel, Trump will meet with the families of the prisoners and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He explained that he attended parts of a rally held in Tel Aviv on Saturday in support of the prisoners, with speakers including his daughter Ivanka Trump, his son-in-law Jared Kushner, and presidential envoy Steve Witkoff.
Trump said he spoke to the three after the event, adding, "It was a great gathering. Everyone was excited and happy." He noted that the audience's reaction to the event was remarkable, with cheers when his name was mentioned, while boos were heard when Netanyahu's name was mentioned during Witkoff's speech.
Trump also expressed his enthusiasm for the international conference to be held in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, on Monday in support of the peace agreement, stressing that the diversity of participating countries reflects the international consensus around his plan.
The US president said he did not know why Netanyahu would not attend the conference, explaining that the Egyptian side had prepared the list of attendees. However, he welcomed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's participation, considering his attendance a positive step toward supporting the agreement.
Trump noted that the Gaza agreement would not have been possible without the military operation he ordered against Iranian nuclear facilities last June, emphasizing that weakening Iran has made Hamas more willing to compromise.
He added that removing the "dark cloud" surrounding Iran's nuclear program has allowed the Arab and Islamic countries participating in the negotiations to unite around the goal of achieving peace in Gaza, considering this a historic moment that could change the face of the entire region.
