Trump Sees Gaza Ceasefire Next Week After Hamas’ Positive Response

U.S. President Donald Trump said on 27 June that negotiations aimed at halting the 21-month war in Gaza were “close,” adding he expected a ceasefire to be secured within the coming week. Speaking to reporters at the White House, he described the humanitarian situation in the enclave as “terrible” and said Washington remained heavily engaged in relief efforts.

Trump reiterated the forecast on 1 July, telling journalists in Florida he would be “very firm” with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about ending the conflict. “He wants to end it too,” Trump said, predicting a deal could be reached next week.

The president renewed his optimism on 5 July while aboard Air Force One, noting that Hamas had given a “positive” response to a U.S.-brokered proposal that pairs a 60-day truce with a hostage-and-prisoner exchange. He said the development left him "very optimistic" that an agreement could be finalised in the days ahead.

Netanyahu is due at the White House on 7 July. U.S., Qatari and Egyptian mediators have been working to narrow remaining gaps between Israel’s security demands and Hamas’s call for a permanent ceasefire. Palestinian health officials say more than 57,000 people have been killed since the war began in October 2023.