Trump indicates much unresolved in deal’s later stages, says dead hostages will be ‘a little bit hard to find’

US President Donald Trump, asked what guarantees the US has provided in negotiations to ensure that Hamas disarms and that Israel doesn’t resume the war, says that the first priority was securing the release of the hostages.

“That’s what people wanted more than anything else… After that, we’ll see,” Trump tells reporters during a cabinet meeting at the White House, highlighting that a lot remains left to be negotiated.

“But they’ve agreed to things, and I think it’s going to move along pretty well,” he adds.

Trump declines to get into specifics regarding the second phase of the agreement, after the hostages are released, but says Hamas will disarm and the IDF will pull back its troops. He highlights his “22 different things that will take place,” apparently referring to his 20-point plan for ending the Gaza war.

“I think it will take place, and I think you can end up with peace in the Middle East,” Trump says.

He acknowledges that the roughly 28 bodies of dead hostages held in Gaza will be “a little bit hard to find.”

“But we have the hostages for the most part, and I don’t think it’s going to be an overly big situation with the bodies… We’re going to do the best we can,” Trump says.

Trump quips that while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may have been unpopular in Israel before this Gaza deal was reached, that is no longer the case. He reiterates that he is open to speaking at the Knesset, while indicating that no such address has been finalized, even though Netanyahu extended an invitation and Israel’s government is preparing for a visit.

Pressed on his view regarding a two-state solution, Trump responds, “I don’t have a view. I’m going to go with what they agree to.”

However, the 20-point plan for ending the Gaza war that he presented last week creates a pathway for the potential creation of a Palestinian state.

Asked whether Palestinians will be allowed to remain in Gaza — which his plan explicitly encourages — Trump says the US will work to make the Strip more livable with the help of wealthy Arab and Muslim states.