TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday emphasized the need for progress in ceasefire discussions regarding the ongoing war in Gaza, expressing hope for an agreement that would put an end to the 20-month-long conflict. This comes as Israel and Hamas reportedly seem to be nearing a potential agreement to halt hostilities.
An unnamed Israeli official indicated that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu might visit Washington in the coming weeks, suggesting possible advancements in ceasefire negotiations. While the official refrained from detailing the visit's agenda, the timing signals a growing momentum towards a new deal.
On his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump urged, “MAKE THE DEAL IN GAZA. GET THE HOSTAGES BACK!!!” This call for action came shortly after expressing optimism that a ceasefire could be reached within a week during comments made to reporters on Friday. He stated, “We’re working on Gaza and trying to get it taken care of,” reiterating his ongoing calls for both Israel and Hamas to cease their fighting.
Although there was an eight-week ceasefire that coincided with Trump taking office earlier this year, subsequent attempts to establish a new agreement have stalled. Meanwhile, Israeli Minister for Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer, a key advisor to Netanyahu, is scheduled to travel to Washington this week to engage in discussions surrounding a ceasefire.
Trump's messages concerning Gaza were not isolated; he also expressed strong criticism regarding Netanyahu’s ongoing corruption trial, labeling it a “POLITICAL WITCH HUNT,” parallel to the scrutiny he himself faced. In the same post, Trump noted that the trial is detracting from Netanyahu's ability to pursue a ceasefire agreement. He questioned how an Israeli Prime Minister could be compelled to spend time in court while crucial negotiations with Hamas are underway.
Efforts toward a ceasefire have consistently faltered largely due to disagreements on the terms for ending the war. Hamas official Mahmoud Merdawi accused Netanyahu of delaying progress, insisting that the Israeli leader is advocating for a temporary deal to exchange only 10 hostages. Conversely, an Israeli spokesperson contested Merdawi’s claims, attributing the ongoing conflict to Hamas and not addressing the accusations directly.
Hamas asserts that it is prepared to release all hostages in return for a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces and the cessation of hostilities. However, Israel has dismissed this offer, stating that it will only agree to stop military action if Hamas surrenders, disarms, and exiles itself—conditions that the group rejects firmly.
The war in Gaza ignited following Hamas's attacks on October 7, 2023, leading to the deaths of 1,200 individuals and taking around 250 hostages, with approximately half of the captives believed to still be alive. In retaliation, Israeli actions have reportedly resulted in over 56,000 casualties, as reported by local health authorities who do not differentiate between militants and civilians, although they note that over half of the deceased are women and children.
This ongoing conflict has precipitated a humanitarian crisis, resulting in the displacement of the majority of Gaza’s population, often multiple times, and drastically damaging the territory's urban infrastructure. In response to the ongoing conflict, the Israeli military issued orders for mass evacuations in northern Gaza as it targets areas significantly impacted by earlier battles.
On Sunday, the Israeli military called for Palestinians in extensive regions of northern Gaza to relocate, a measure described by Col. Avichay Adraee, a military spokesperson, as part of an effort to facilitate operations against militants. The military has instructed residents to head south toward the Muwasi area in southern Gaza. Following previous evacuations, many individuals had returned to northern Gaza during an earlier ceasefire, but the current military offensive aims to manage Palestinian movements to free up operations against militant groups. Rights organizations have criticized this directive, seeing it as forced displacement.
