Washington, D.C. — U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday that his administration is close to finalizing a Gaza deal that could both secure the release of hostages and end the nearly two-year-long war between Israel and Hamas.
“It’s looking like we have a deal on Gaza. I think it’s a deal that gets the hostages back, it’s going to be a deal that ends the war,” Trump told reporters before departing the White House for the Ryder Cup in New York. He did not provide a timeline but said progress had accelerated in recent days.
A senior White House official confirmed that Trump will meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday at the White House to push toward a framework agreement. Netanyahu had addressed the United Nations General Assembly earlier in the week, while U.S. envoys circulated a 21-point peace plan to regional leaders.
Details of the proposal
The U.S. plan, presented to officials from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, Indonesia, and Pakistan, calls for:
- The return of all hostages, both living and dead.
- A halt to further Israeli strikes on Qatar.
- Renewed Israeli–Palestinian dialogue aimed at “peaceful coexistence.”
Tensions with Qatar escalated after an Israeli airstrike on Hamas targets in Doha on September 9. Trump, who has positioned himself as Israel’s strongest backer, said he has held direct talks with leaders across the Middle East to build momentum.
War toll and stakes
The Gaza war erupted on October 7, 2023, when Hamas militants killed 1,200 people in Israel and abducted 251 hostages. Israeli officials say 48 hostages remain in captivity, about 20 of them believed to be alive.
Israel’s military response has left more than 65,000 Palestinians dead, according to local health authorities, and reduced much of Gaza to rubble. The war has strained regional diplomacy, but Trump insisted a breakthrough is within reach.
The president’s remarks came as international partners pressed Washington to leverage its influence to bring the conflict to an end. “All are on board for something special, first time ever. We will get it done,” Trump posted earlier on Truth Social.
If finalized, the Trump Gaza deal would represent the most significant diplomatic intervention in the conflict since its outbreak, potentially reshaping U.S. influence in the Middle East.
