US President Donald Trump will host a summit comprised of several world leaders regarding the Gaza Strip during his upcoming visit to Egypt next week, Axios reported on Friday, citing four sources with knowledge of the matter.
Trump's summit is being organized with assistance from Egyptian President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi; the Egyptian leader has already invited several European and Arab leaders, the sources said.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz spoke on Friday with Sisi, praising Egypt's central role in efforts to end the conflict in Gaza. According to Reuters, Merz pledged continued German support.
"The Chancellor stressed that Germany would continue to engage with Egypt for the release of hostages, a stable ceasefire, humanitarian aid, and the reconstruction of Gaza," read a German government statement.
This comes after Trump announced that he will visit Israel on Monday for around six hours. During his time in the Jewish state, he is expected to address the Knesset and potentially meet with the families of the hostages.
On Saturday, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty spoke with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the phone, discussing arrangements related to the summit in Sharm El-Sheikh led by Trump and Sisi, as well as arrangements on implementing the US leader's agreement's first phase in Gaza.
Trump to visit Israel after Egypt summit, address Knesset
Trump will reportedly land at Ben-Gurion Airport and speak alongside Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog, according to N12. Following these speeches, he may meet with hostage families.
His return flight to the United States is believed to be as early as 2 p.m.
Additionally, the hostage families were informed that preparations to retrieve their loved ones could happen as early as Sunday, Israeli media reported on Friday night.
The US president originally stated in a call to some hostage families that he believed the hostages would be released on Monday. As per Trump's Gaza deal, the hostages were meant to be released no less than 72 hours after Israel publicly agreed to the terms.
The government announced that it had approved the deal late on Thursday evening.
Eli Leon contributed to this report.