Trump says Gaza peace deal near as Israel, Hamas talks continue

US President Donald Trump on Monday said he thought there would be a Gaza deal soon. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump said tremendous progress on the issue had been made.

The Trump administration is working hard to advance as quickly as possible a proposed plan to end the conflict in Gaza, with technical discussions underway, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said.

Trump’s remarks came as delegations from Israel and Hamas began indirect negotiations in Egypt that the US hopes will bring a halt to the war in Gaza.

Israel and Hamas have both endorsed the overall principles behind President Donald Trump’s plan, under which fighting would cease, hostages would go free and aid would pour into Gaza.

The plan also has the backing of Arab and Western states. Trump has called for negotiations to take place swiftly towards a final deal, in what Washington hails as the closest the sides have yet come to ending the two-year-old conflict.

Trump, who has cast himself as the only world leader capable of achieving peace in Gaza, has invested significant political capital in efforts to end the war that has killed tens of thousands and left US ally Israel increasingly isolated on the world stage. “I am told that the first phase should be completed this week, and I am asking everyone to MOVE FAST,” Trump earlier said in a social media post.

But both sides are seeking clarifications of crucial details, including over issues that have derailed all previous attempts to end the war and could defy any quick resolution.

Trump has pushed Israel to suspend its bombing of Gaza for the talks. Gaza residents said Israel had scaled back its offensive substantially, although not halted it altogether.

Gaza health authorities reported 19 people killed by Israeli strikes in the past 24 hours, around a third of the typical daily toll in recent weeks, when Israel has been mounting one of its biggest offensives of the war, an all-out assault on Gaza City.