US President Donald Trump on Monday refrained from endorsing a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, saying his immediate priority is the reconstruction of Gaza, TRT reported.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One during his return from Egypt, Trump said, “I’m not talking about single state or double state or two state. We’re talking about the rebuilding of Gaza,” when asked about Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi’s call for a two-state solution.
Earlier, Trump and Sisi hosted over 20 world leaders in Sharm el-Sheikh for a summit aimed at formalizing a Gaza ceasefire, with Türkiye, Egypt, and Qatar acting as guarantors. Trump added that opinions vary on one-state and two-state solutions and that future plans for Gaza would be coordinated with international partners.
Trump had announced on Wednesday that Israel and Hamas had agreed to the first phase of a 20-point ceasefire plan he proposed on September 29. The agreement includes the release of all Israeli captives in exchange for approximately 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, and a gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. This first phase came into effect on Friday.
The plan’s second phase envisions a new governing structure in Gaza, a security force comprising Palestinians and troops from Arab and Muslim countries, and the disarmament of Hamas.
Since October 2023, Israeli attacks have claimed over 67,800 Palestinian lives in Gaza, mostly women and children, leaving the enclave severely devastated.
