An end to the war between Israel and Hamas could be coming “within the next week,” President Trump predicted Friday.
Trump revealed that officials are inching closer to a final ceasefire deal that would see a truce between the warring sides and the release of Israeli hostages who have been in the terror group’s captivity for nearly two years.
“I think it’s close. I just spoke with some of the people involved,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. “We think within the next week we’re going to get a ceasefire.”
President Trump says a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas War could occur sometime next week. APSome 50 Israeli hostages remain in Gaza, fewer than half of them believed to still be alive.
They were part of some 250 hostages abducted when Hamas launched its terror attack Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, sparking the 21-month-long war.
Describing the fighting as a “terrible situation,” Trump also addressed the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza as supplies dwindle, citizens starve and the death toll continues to climb.
“You see the lines of people just to get one meal, essentially. But it’s too bad other countries aren’t helping out,” Trump said.
“We’re working on Gaza, trying to get it taken care of and again, you know, a lot of food has been sent there. And other countries throughout the world should be helping also.”
A spokesperson for Qatar’s Foreign Ministry added Saturday that mediators are building momentum between Israel and Hamas for a truce-hostage release deal.
“If we don’t utilize this window of opportunity and this momentum, it’s an opportunity lost amongst many in the near past. We don’t want to see that again,” spokesperson Majed al-Ansari said in a Friday interview with AFP.
Trump told reporters that while the situation in Gaza is terrible, there is still hope that a ceasefire can happen. APAImages/ShutterstockBut Israel has not relented in its campaign against Hamas, and rained missiles across Gaza overnight Friday into Saturday — announcing that it had “eliminated” Hakham Muhammad Issa Al-Issa, identified as one of Hamas’ founding military leaders.
Al-Issa was one of the masterminds responsible for planning and executing the Oct. 7, 2023 massacre, Israeli forces stated.
Israeli Defense Forces Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir said Friday that the military’s latest offensive will soon “reach the lines” in Gaza defined by Israeli leaders.
Meanwhile, on Friday night, a rocket launched from the central Gaza Strip was intercepted by air defenses, the military said. The IDF said no injuries were caused.
Following the rocket fire, the IDF’s Arabic spokesperson issued an evacuation warning for parts of the Gaza Strip.
The statement added that the IDF will utilize intensive firepower “to destroy the capabilities of terrorist organizations in these areas.”
Israeli Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi declared this week that the Jewish state’s mission in Gaza is “not yet complete,” and that the new main goal following its 12-day war with Iran is “eliminating Hamas, returning the hostages and advancing the emigration plan [for Gazans wishing to leave the Strip].”
On Friday, the European Council also called for an end to the war, urging that a final ceasefire in Gaza is reached and Hamas return the remaining hostages.
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