Trump to Axios: Gaza deal might be my biggest accomplishment
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Trump boards Air Force One en route to Israel. Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
President Trump told Axios in a phone interview from Air Force One en route to Israel that the Gaza peace deal "could be the biggest thing I was ever involved in."
The big picture: As Trump was speaking with Axios, Israel was preparing for the imminent release of the last 20 live hostages held by Hamas. Meanwhile, Trump's peace plan should end a war that has killed more than 67,000 Palestinians, according to the Hamas-controlled Gaza health ministry.
Driving the news: Trump will address Israel's parliament, the Knesset, on Monday morning.
- When asked what his message to the Israeli people would be in the speech, he said: "Love and peace for eternity."
- During his brief visit to Israel, he will also meet with hostage families and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Trump said he'd watched parts of a rally for the hostages in Tel Aviv on Saturday. The speakers included his daughter Ivanka Trump, son-in-law Jared Kushner and envoy Steve Witkoff.
- The president said he'd spoken to the three about it afterwards. "It was an incredible rally. It was a great thing. Everybody is thrilled," he said.
- One aspect of the rally that gained attention online was that the crowd cheered when Trump's name was mentioned, but booed when Witkoff mentioned Netanyahu.
What's next: Trump sounded enthusiastic about the international conference that will be held later on Monday in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, in support of the peace deal.
- He said the range of countries that will be in attendance signals the world is united around his plan.
- Trump said he didn't know why Netanyahu wasn't expected to attend, noting that the Egyptian hosts handled the guest list.
- But he said he thinks it's good that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will attend.
Trump claimed he wouldn't have been able to reach the deal in Gaza if he hadn't ordered the attack on Iran's nuclear facilities in June.
- Trump claimed Hamas was more willing to compromise with its Iranian backers weakened, and that lifting the "black cloud" around Iran's nuclear program allowed the Arab and Muslim countries involved in the talks to unite around getting a deal in Gaza.
Go deeper: Trump declares Gaza war over
