WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump said on Thursday (Oct 9) that he plans to leave for the Middle East sometime on Sunday, after Israel and Hamas reached a deal to release hostages held in Gaza.

Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas signed an agreement on Thursday to cease fire and free Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, in the first phase of Trump's initiative to end the two-year war in Gaza that has upended the Middle East

Trump said he would head to the region, possibly to attend a signing ceremony in Egypt, and Israeli Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana invited him to address the legislative body, which would be the first such speech by a US president since 2008. Trump said he hoped the deal would lead to"an everlasting peace" in the region.

Trump's two special envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, held meetings with the Israeli president and prime minister in Jerusalem on Thursday, the Israeli leaders' offices said.

During their meeting with Isaac Herzog, the Israeli president"discussed with the envoys the framework of the agreement they led and negotiated to secure the return of the hostages and to bring about an end to the war with Hamas", the presidency said in a statement.

The two later met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his office said.