Washington: US President Donald Trump on Friday indicated that the United States may be close to brokering a deal to end the conflict in Gaza.
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said, “It’s looking like we have a deal on Gaza.”
Earlier, on Thursday, he reiterated that he would not permit Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to annex the Israeli-occupied West Bank. “I will not allow Israel to annex the West Bank. It’s not going to happen,” he stated.
According to US media reports, Trump’s proposed plan for Gaza envisions the release of all hostages, a permanent ceasefire, a gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from the territory, the establishment of a governing structure independent of Hamas, and the deployment of international forces to maintain security.
Trump’s remarks come as Netanyahu, speaking at the UN General Assembly on Friday, warned that Israel would “finish the job” against Hamas in Gaza unless the group released the remaining hostages taken during the 2023 attacks on Israel, which claimed over 1,200 lives.
“Free the hostages now,” Netanyahu told Hamas from the podium. “If you do, you will live. If you don’t, Israel will hunt you down,” he added.
Earlier this week, Trump held a multilateral meeting on Gaza with leaders of select Muslim-majority countries, including Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, on the sidelines of the UNGA in New York. Other attendees included officials from Turkey, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Egypt, the UAE, and Jordan.
During his UNGA address, Trump placed blame squarely on Hamas for rejecting what he described as “reasonable offers” for peace and criticised countries that have recently recognised a Palestinian state.
“We can’t forget October 7. Some in this body are seeking to unilaterally recognise a Palestinian state, as if to encourage continued conflict. The rewards for Hamas terrorists would be too great for their atrocities. Those who want peace should speak with one voice: release the hostages now. Just release the hostages now,” he urged.
