US President Donald Trump said on Friday that a deal to end the war in Gaza and secure the release of hostages may be close. Speaking to reporters before departing the White House for the Ryder Cup golf tournament in New York, Trump stated, “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.” He did not provide further details.
While international leaders gathered in New York for the United Nations General Assembly, the United States unveiled a 21-point Middle East peace plan aimed at ending the nearly two-year-long war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas. According to U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, the proposal was shared on Tuesday with officials from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, Indonesia, and Pakistan.
Trump, widely known for his strong support of Israel, confirmed that he had spoken with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and representatives from several Middle Eastern countries on Thursday. He expressed optimism that the talks could soon result in a breakthrough. “We want the hostages back, we want the bodies back, and we want to have peace in that region. So we had some very good talks,” he said.
In a separate statement on Thursday, Trump addressed the West Bank issue, rejecting calls from far-right Israeli politicians who have pushed for full annexation of the territory. Trump said he would not support any move to extend Israeli sovereignty over the West Bank, a stance that keeps the door open for future negotiations toward a two-state solution.
Meanwhile, the war in Gaza has drawn increasing global condemnation. Now nearing its two-year mark, the conflict has left a devastating toll. According to local health authorities, more than 65,000 Palestinians have been killed, and large swaths of Gaza have been reduced to rubble amid ongoing Israeli military operations. Despite mounting pressure for a ceasefire, no resolution has yet been achieved.
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