Trump Sees Gaza Ceasefire Deal Within a Week Ahead of Netanyahu Visit

President Donald Trump said on Friday that talks aimed at ending the Gaza war are “very close,” adding that a ceasefire agreement could be finalized as early as next week after Hamas delivered what he described as a “positive” reply to a US-sponsored proposal.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said the draft framework calls for a 60-day truce and a staged exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian detainees, with mediation led by Qatar and Egypt. He cautioned that negotiators still need to settle implementation details but said he is “very optimistic.”

The president’s comments follow earlier statements on 27 June and 1 July in which he predicted a ceasefire “within the next week.” US diplomacy has intensified since a separate ceasefire between Israel and Iran on 24 June created new momentum for the Gaza talks.

Trump also pledged to be “very firm” with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is scheduled to visit the White House on 7 July, saying both leaders want to bring the 21-month conflict to an end.

Gaza’s Health Ministry says nearly 55,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war began after Hamas’s 7 October 2023 assault on Israel, which left about 1,200 Israelis dead and roughly 250 people taken hostage.