World Desk

U.S. President Donald Trump has said he believes a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza could be reached “within the next week,” although he provided no concrete details or timelines to support the claim.

Speaking to reporters on Friday, Trump said he had spoken with individuals involved in the peace efforts and was “hopeful” about a resolution. “I think it’s close. I just spoke to some of the people involved,” he said, without naming them.

The unexpected statement comes amid escalating violence in Gaza, where hundreds of Palestinians have been killed in recent weeks, and follows widespread allegations of Israeli forces shooting unarmed civilians seeking food.

Al Jazeera correspondent Nour Odeh, reporting from Amman, noted that while Trump’s comment might bring a glimmer of hope to people in Gaza, there are currently no known formal ceasefire talks underway. She added that the likelihood of any agreement may be tied to broader regional negotiations, including potential normalization deals between Israel and Arab states — a diplomatic effort previously backed by Trump’s administration.

According to reports, Hamas has insisted that any truce must include a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and U.S. guarantees that talks would continue without further breaches. Meanwhile, Israeli leadership has publicly dismissed calls for ending the war, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu under pressure not to appear to concede.

The timing of Trump’s statement is also notable, as international outrage grows over reports of Israeli troops targeting Palestinians at aid distribution sites. Gaza’s Health Ministry claims nearly 550 Palestinians have been killed near these points since late May. A report by Israeli newspaper Haaretz alleged that soldiers were ordered to fire at civilians approaching aid, a charge Israel’s leadership has denied.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the humanitarian toll, stating Friday, “People are being killed simply trying to feed themselves and their families. The search for food must never be a death sentence.”

Doctors Without Borders has also denounced the current aid distribution setup as “a slaughter masquerading as humanitarian aid.”

Despite Trump’s optimism, a spokesperson for his special envoy Steve Witkoff said there was no new information to share about any progress toward a ceasefire. Witkoff had earlier played a role in brokering a temporary truce and hostage release in Gaza shortly before Trump returned to office in January — a truce that collapsed in March after Israel launched renewed bombing across the territory.

Israeli officials have maintained that only military pressure will lead to the release of captives held by Hamas. A blockade on food, medicine, fuel, and other essentials remains in place, contributing to widespread hunger among Gaza’s 2.1 million residents.

Meanwhile, Israel’s Minister for Strategic Affairs, Ron Dermer, is expected in Washington next week for talks with U.S. officials on Gaza, Iran, and a potential visit by Netanyahu to the White House.

Source: Al Jazeera