Washington, June 28, 2025: Former U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday expressed optimism that a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas could be reached “within the next week,” citing ongoing mediation efforts involving unnamed intermediaries. His comments follow the conclusion of a U.S.- and Israeli-led air campaign against Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, which ended in a separate ceasefire earlier this week.
“I think it’s close. I just spoke to some of the people involved,” Trump told reporters at the White House. “We think within the next week we’re going to get a ceasefire.”
Trump is reportedly urging Israeli leadership to de-escalate its military campaign in Gaza and pivot toward advancing regional normalization efforts under the Abraham Accords. Israel’s Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer is scheduled to arrive in Washington on Monday for high-level discussions focusing on Gaza, Iran, and a potential visit by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the White House.
Efforts to broker a lasting truce have repeatedly faltered. In late May, U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff proposed a 60-day ceasefire deal under which Hamas would release 10 living hostages and the remains of 18 others abducted during the October 7 attacks. In return, Israel would release 125 prisoners serving life sentences, over 1,100 Palestinian detainees, and the bodies of 180 deceased Palestinians.
While Israel reportedly agreed to the proposal, Hamas introduced amendments that Witkoff later described as “totally unacceptable.”
Prime Minister Netanyahu continues to face mounting pressure from families of hostages still held in Gaza. Though he remains firm that the war will not end until Hamas is defeated, he has not ruled out a temporary truce to secure the release of more captives.
