Egypt Daily News – U.S. President Donald Trump expressed optimism on Friday about the possibility of a new ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, indicating that an agreement between Israel and Hamas could be reached as early as next week.
In a press briefing, Trump stated: “I think it’s imminent,” adding, “We believe that next week we will reach a ceasefire.”
Meanwhile, Qatar’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Majed Al-Ansari, said Friday that mediators are engaging with both Israel and Hamas to build on this week’s ceasefire between Iran and Israel, and to seize what he described as a “chance” to achieve a truce in Gaza.
“If we don’t seize this opportunity and this momentum, it will be another missed chance among many in recent history. We don’t want to see that happen again,” Al-Ansari said.
He referred to the previous U.S.-brokered ceasefire reached around the time Trump took office in January, which led to the release of dozens of hostages held by Hamas in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. “We’ve seen what U.S. pressure can achieve,” Al-Ansari noted.
Following the recent U.S.-announced ceasefire between Israel and Iran, he added that another truce in Gaza under American pressure was “not unlikely.” He emphasized the importance of strong international engagement, especially from the U.S., to bring both parties to the negotiating table.
Background and Humanitarian Crisis
Israel declared the end of the previous ceasefire in March and resumed airstrikes against Hamas in response to the group’s unprecedented attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which ignited the ongoing war in Gaza.
In early March, Israel also imposed a complete blockade on Gaza, halting the entry of humanitarian aid. This has led to severe shortages of food, medicine, and other essential goods. In late May, the blockade was slightly eased with the start of aid distribution by the Israeli- and U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.
On Thursday, the U.S. announced it would allocate $30 million to support the foundation. Trump commented Friday: “We’re providing a lot of money and food to that region. We’re involved because people are dying. We’re seeing crowds with no food or anything.”
Controversy Over Army Conduct
Israeli political and media circles reacted strongly to Trump’s remarks and reports in the Israeli left-leaning newspaper Haaretz, which quoted soldiers claiming their commanders instructed them to open fire on civilians near aid distribution centers, even if they posed no threat.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the article, calling the allegations “a disgraceful and false blood libel,” in a joint statement with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.
Despite denials, dozens have reportedly been killed in mass gatherings around aid distribution centers in Gaza, according to local witnesses and authorities in the Palestinian enclave.
