Israel-Gaza live updates: Hamas publishes names of 20 living Israeli hostages to be released

Secretary of State Marco Rubio was captured by an Associated Press photographer on Wednesday handing President Donald Trump a note during his roundtable meeting that reads: "Very close. We need you to approve a Truth Social post soon so you can announce deal first."

Trump addressed the note during the meeting after asking Rubio if there were any updates on the Middle East, saying, "I was just given a note by the Secretary of State saying that we're very close to a deal in the Middle East, and they'll gonna need me pretty quickly."

After taking a few more questions, Trump left the room with Rubio.

Speaking at the White House on Wednesday, President Donald Trump said negotiations are proceeding "very well" and noted that he may travel to the Middle East this weekend.

"We have a great team over there, great negotiators, and there are unfortunately great negotiators on the other side also. But it's something I think that will happen. Got a good chance of happening. I may go there sometime toward the end of the week. Maybe on Sunday, actually, and we'll see," Trump said during a roundtable.

"But there's a very good chance that negotiations are going along very well," he added.

When later asked where he would go, Trump said, "Egypt most likely," adding, "That's where everybody is gathered right now."

Following the roundtable, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement that Trump is "considering going to the Middle East shortly thereafter" his yearly check-up at Walter Reed Medical Center on Friday.

The president said he was late to the roundtable meeting because he said he was on a phone call with "people from the Middle East, Arab people and other people on the potential peace deal for the Middle East."

As negotiations continue for a peace deal, an Israeli official signaled they could be close to a deal.

“We are optimistic about reaching a deal by Friday,” an Israeli official involved in the ongoing Gaza ceasefire talks in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, told ABC News Wednesday evening local time.

-ABC News' Jordana Miller

Spain’s parliament approved a bill reinforcing an arms embargo on Israel on Wednesday.

The vote in parliament was 178 in favor and 169 against with one abstention.

Spain officially recognized the state of Palestine in May 2024.

-ABC News' Aicha Elhammar