Donald Trump Says He is Close to Hostage Deal With Hamas: What to Know
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President Donald Trump said on Sunday there was a "good chance" of negotiators reaching a hostage deal in Gaza in the coming days, after months of fruitless talks and stalled progress on the Republican's peacemaker pledge.
Why It Matters
The first stage of a U.S-brokered ceasefire deal agreed in January fell apart in March, as negotiators failed to nail down a second stage of the agreement and Israel resumed its offensive in Gaza.
What To Know
"I think we're close to a deal on Gaza—we could have it this week," Trump told reporters as he headed to Washington on Sunday.
There is a "good chance" a deal with Palestinian militant group Hamas could be reached in the "coming week," Trump said. "We've gotten a lot of the hostages out, but pertaining to the remaining hostages, quite a few of them will be coming out."
President Donald Trump listens as Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a news conference in the East Room of the White House, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in Washington.
President Donald Trump listens as Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a news conference in the East Room of the White House, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025, in Washington.
AP Photo/Evan Vucci
A total of 50 hostages remain in the Gaza Strip of the 251 people abducted by Hamas during its unprecedented October 7 attacks in 2023—surprise assaults on Israel that killed approximately 1,200 people. Israeli authorities say 20 of the hostages are still alive.
Israel, following the October 7 attacks, launched a full-scale war in Gaza that has devastated the slip of territory and its roughly 2 million inhabitants. More than 57,000 people have been killed in Gaza since fall 2023, according to the Hamas-run health authorities. This figure does not distinguish between civilians and combatants.
Aid organizations, as well as governments that have supported Israel, have long warned of humanitarian disaster stalking Palestinians in Gaza. "The level of human suffering in Gaza is intolerable," the U.K, Canada and France said in a joint statement shortly after Israel launched what it described as "extensive" new operations in the strip in May.
The U.S. President has repeatedly said he believes a deal could be on the horizon, including in remarks in late June, when Trump suggested a deal could materialize "within the next week."
A person with knowledge of the discussions, who requested anonymity to discuss sensitive matters, told Newsweek in late June an "agreement is very possible," adding Trump was trying to convince Netanyahu that "the time is right" to ink a deal.
Israeli media reported at the time that officials involved in Israel's negotiations on a hostage deal and a ceasefire for Gaza did not share Trump's optimism on how quickly agreements could be signed.
Newsweek has reached out to Hamas for comment.
Netanyahu, leaving for Washington on Sunday, called his third trip to the White House during Trump's second term a "very important visit."
The most recent round of indirect talks on a ceasefire wrapped up without a breakthrough, the BBC reported on Sunday, citing a Palestinian official familiar with the negotiations. Fresh conversations are expected to start up on Monday, according to the report. Newsweek was not able to verify this report.
Ceasefire and hostage talks have largely been mediated by the U.S, Qatar and Egypt. Netanyahu said on Sunday he had "dispatched a team to the negotiations with clear instructions."
"We are working to achieve the much discussed deal, on the conditions that we have agreed to," Netanyahu said.
Trump said on July 1 Israel had agreed to "the necessary conditions" for finalizing a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza after a "long and productive meeting" with U.S. officials.
Hamas said later in the week it had returned a "positive" response to the latest iteration of a hostage deal and ceasefire proposal. Netanyahu's office on Saturday said Hamas had requested "unacceptable" changes to the proposal formulated by Qatar.
The Associated Press reported on Sunday that the document submitted by mediators to Hamas outlined a 60-day ceasefire proposal, during which Israel would pull back to a buffer zone on the Gaza border. Aid would pour into Gaza as Hamas turns 10 living and 18 deceased hostages to Israel, according to the report.
"I believe that the conversation with President Trump can definitely help advance that result which we are all hoping for," Netanyahu said.
Netanyahu is set to meet with senior Trump officials, Democrat and Republican members of Congress, and other "key figures," the Israeli leader said.
What People Are Saying
"We have never had such a friend in the White House," Netanyahu said as he departed for the U.S. from Israel on Sunday.
What Happens Next
Netanyahu is expected to meet with Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio later on Monday.
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