JAKARTA - United States (US) President Donald Trump believes a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas militants over the Gaza conflict will be reached within a week.
Efforts to resolve the Gaza conflict escalated after the US and Israel bombed Iran's nuclear facilities. The ceasefire for the 12-day Israeli-Iran conflict took effect earlier this week.
"I think it's close. I just spoke to some of the people involved," Trump said.
"We think next week we will reach a ceasefire," he continued.
Trump said he had just spoken with several people involved in efforts to achieve an end to hostilities between Israel and Hamas in the Palestinian enclave.
But he didn't say who he spoke to, but he told reporters he was in touch with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu almost every day during the Israeli-Iran conflict.
Hamas said it was willing to release the remaining hostages in Gaza under any agreement to end the war.
While Israel says the war can only end if Hamas is stripped and dissolved. Hamas refused to lay down his gun.
The war in Gaza was triggered when Hamas-led militants attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and holding 251 people hostage, according to Israeli tallies.
Gaza's health ministry said Israel's post-7 October military offensive had killed more than 56,000 Palestinians.
The attack has also led to a hunger crisis, internally displaced the entire population of Gaza and sparked allegations of genocide in the International Court of Justice and war crimes at the International Criminal Court. Israel denies the allegations.
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Trump's surprise prediction of a possible ceasefire deal in the coming days comes at a time when there is little sign the warring side is ready to restart serious negotiations or relent from a rooted position.
Witkoff helped former President Joe Biden's aides broker the ceasefire and a hostage release agreement shortly before Trump took office in January, but the deal was immediately scrapped.
The Israeli Embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer plans to visit Washington from Monday next week to hold talks with Trump administration officials about Gaza, Iran, and possibly Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to the White House, according to sources familiar with the matter.
Netanyahu on Thursday said the outcome of Israel's war with Iran presented an opportunity for peace that his country should not waste.
"This victory presents an opportunity for a dramatic expansion of the peace agreement. We are working on this enthusiastically," Netanyahu said.
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