President Donald Trump of the United States has said that progress is being made to end the Israel–Hamas war in Gaza, as a new ceasefire push begins more than 20 months since the start of the conflict.
“I think great progress is being made on Gaza. Gaza is very close,” Trump made this statement while addressing reporters on Wednesday, stressing that his special envoy, Steve Witkoff, had informed him.
The president linked his hope of “looming very good news” to a ceasefire agreed on Tuesday between Israel and Hamas’s backer, Iran, to end their 12-day war.
DAILY POST reports that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been facing growing calls from opposition politicians, relatives of hostages being held in Gaza, and even members of his ruling coalition to end the fighting, prompted by Palestinian militant group Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack.
Recall that key mediator Qatar on Tuesday announced that it would launch a new push for a ceasefire, with Hamas on Wednesday saying talks had stepped up.
“Our communications with the brother mediators in Egypt and Qatar have not stopped and have intensified in recent hours,” Hamas official Taher al-Nunu said.
The official, however, issued a stern warning that the group had not yet received any new proposals to end the war.
The Israeli government declined to comment on any new ceasefire talks, beyond stating that efforts to return Israeli hostages in Gaza were ongoing both on the battlefield and through negotiations.
