Washington: U.S. President Donald Trump expressed optimism on Friday about the prospects of a ceasefire in the ongoing Gaza war, stating that an agreement could be reached within a week.
Speaking at an Oval Office event marking a peace accord between Congo and Rwanda, Trump told reporters he had been in discussions with individuals involved in the peace efforts between Israel and the Iran-backed militant group Hamas.
Trump's remarks come as momentum builds around diplomatic efforts to end the Gaza conflict, following a recent ceasefire that halted 12 days of direct hostilities between Israel and Iran. He did not disclose the names of those he spoke with but indicated he had been in frequent contact with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during the Israel-Iran confrontation.
“I think we’re close. I’ve been speaking to people engaged in the process,” Trump said. “We’re hopeful that within the next week we’ll see a ceasefire.”
The conflict in Gaza began after Hamas-led militants carried out assault on Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in 1,200 deaths and the capture of 251 hostages, according to Israeli figures. In retaliation, Israel launched a deadly military campaign that the Gaza Health Ministry reports has killed more than 56,000 Palestinians. The humanitarian crisis triggered by the war has displaced the entire population of Gaza, created widespread hunger, and drawn international legal scrutiny. Israel faces accusations of genocide at the International Court of Justice and war crimes at the International Criminal Court—charges it firmly denies.
Hamas has signaled willingness to release the remaining hostages as part of any deal to end the war, though it continues to reject demands to disarm. Israel maintains that Hamas must be dismantled before any ceasefire can be finalized.
A spokesperson for U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff said there were no additional updates beyond Trump’s remarks. Witkoff previously worked with aides from President Joe Biden's administration to facilitate a ceasefire and hostage deal before Trump's return to office in January—an agreement that later collapsed.
The Israeli embassy in Washington have not yet commented on Trump’s statement. However, Israeli Minister for Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer is expected in Washington on Monday to meet with Trump administration officials. Discussions are likely to focus on Gaza, Iran, and a potential White House visit by Netanyahu.
Netanyahu, speaking Thursday, framed Israel’s recent confrontation with Iran as a strategic opportunity to expand regional peace efforts. “This victory opens the door to broadening peace accords significantly. We’re pursuing this with determination,” he said.
