Gaza Ceasefire
President Donald Trump expressed optimism on Friday that a ceasefire in the ongoing Gaza conflict between Israel and Hamas could be achieved within the coming week. Speaking during an Oval Office event marking a peace accord between Congo and Rwanda, Trump told reporters that negotiations toward halting hostilities in Gaza were progressing and a truce was “close.”
“I think it’s close. I just spoke to some of the people involved,” Trump said, without naming specific individuals. “We think within the next week we’re going to get a ceasefire.”
Trump’s comments came amid heightened diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the conflict that began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages, according to Israeli sources.
In response, Israel launched a massive military offensive in Gaza that has, according to the local health ministry, resulted in over 56,000 Palestinian deaths, triggered mass displacement, and brought the enclave to the brink of famine. The humanitarian toll has prompted international outcry, with Israel facing accusations of genocide and war crimes in international courts — charges it firmly denies.
Despite the grim conditions, Hamas has reportedly indicated willingness to release the remaining hostages in exchange for a comprehensive ceasefire. Israel, however, has insisted that any ceasefire is contingent on Hamas being fully disarmed and dismantled — terms the group continues to reject.
Trump, who has maintained close contact with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu throughout the broader regional tensions, particularly during the recent 12-day Israel-Iran conflict, did not elaborate on the nature of his conversations or the parties involved in the ongoing mediation. However, his remarks have sparked cautious optimism amid a diplomatic deadlock.
The ceasefire between Israel and Iran, brokered earlier in the week after a series of reciprocal strikes including a U.S.-assisted Israeli bombardment of Iranian nuclear facilities and Iran’s retaliatory attack on a U.S. base in Qatar, appears to have reenergized talks surrounding Gaza.
Sources say Israeli Minister for Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer is expected in Washington next week for high-level talks on Gaza, Iran, and a potential White House visit by Prime Minister Netanyahu. The meetings may also include discussions on long-term peacebuilding and regional realignments following the cessation of Israeli-Iranian hostilities.
While official channels such as the office of U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff declined to comment beyond Trump’s statement, Witkoff has been previously involved in mediating hostage and ceasefire talks under the Biden administration. A ceasefire and prisoner release deal arranged in late 2024 had collapsed shortly after Trump assumed office in January 2025.
Despite the apparent lack of formal breakthroughs or new frameworks being publicly announced, Trump’s assertion that a ceasefire may be imminent has reignited hopes that a temporary halt to the war’s destruction could be within reach — provided the entrenched positions of Israel and Hamas can be bridged.
Still, analysts caution that optimism must be tempered with realism, as previous efforts have collapsed amid deep mutual distrust, contested terms, and fluctuating international pressure. Whether Trump’s confidence proves accurate will depend on rapid diplomatic maneuvering and concessions from both sides in a conflict that has deeply scarred the region.
