Hamas-Israel ceasefire talks gain momentum, Trump says great progress on Gaza
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Negotiations between Hamas and Israel aimed at securing a ceasefire in Gaza have gained fresh momentum, according to a senior Hamas official. This development follows statements by US President Donald Trump, suggesting "great progress" regarding Gaza.
"I think great progress is being made on Gaza. Because of this attack that we made, I think we're going to have some very good news," Trump said during a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on the sidelines of a NATO summit in The Hague.
Trump also mentioned that US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff had informed him that "Gaza is very close" to reaching an agreement.
As reported by AFP, a senior Hamas leader confirmed that discussions between the two sides have intensified in recent hours. Mediating countries, particularly Egypt and Qatar, continue to play a central role in facilitating dialogue.
Qatar's Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani earlier expressed hopes that indirect talks between Israel and Hamas could take place in the coming days.
Hamas spokesperson Taher Al-Nounou stated that communication with these "brotherly mediators" has remained ongoing and has become more active recently.
Despite the intensification of talks, Al-Nounou clarified that Hamas has not yet received any new or concrete proposals that could bring a definitive end to the war.
Read: US gives $30m to controversial aid group in Gaza despite violence concerns
Meanwhile, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has sent a letter to US President Donald Trump, commending his efforts to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Iran.
In the letter, Abbas, who leads the Palestinian Authority, praised Trump's role in securing the truce and expressed his willingness to collaborate on a broader peace deal that would end the Israeli occupation and bring long-term stability to the region.
Abbas offered his support for working with the US and other Arab and international countries to negotiate a comprehensive peace agreement.
"We hope and trust in your ability to make a new history for our region that will restore to the region the peace lost for generations," Abbas wrote in his letter, as reported by the Wafa news agency.
The letter comes amid continued violence in Gaza, where hospitals report that at least 41 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli airstrikes since the early hours of the day.
Among the dead are 14 individuals who were reportedly near aid distribution centres, further compounding the humanitarian crisis in the region.
Read more: EU seeks Gaza progress
In Gaza City, a resident, Ramzi Khaled, described a harrowing scene to Reuters after an Israeli airstrike hit a building sheltering displaced people.
Khaled recounted the explosion that brought down the ceiling, leaving many people in pieces. "We started working with a hammer – and primitive things," he said, describing how he and others tried to retrieve bodies using their hands and basic tools, as there were no bulldozers or other machinery available.
Israel's war on Gaza
The Gaza Health Ministry reports that more than 55,700 Palestinians have been killed since Israel's military offensive began
Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.
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