U.S. President Donald Trump looks on before welcoming Finland's President Alexander Stubb at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., on October 9, 2025. REUTERS/Nathan Howard

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday 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.

(Reporting By Jeff Mason and Jarrett Renshaw)