President Donald Trump told reporters on Sunday that he hopes a ceasefire agreement in Gaza could be finalized within a week. Speaking at Joint Base Andrews after returning from the FIFA Club World Cup final, Trump said, “Gaza, we are talking and hopefully we’re going to get that straightened out over the next week.”
Talks between U.S., Israeli, and regional officials have intensified, aiming to secure the release of hostages and de-escalate the conflict. A senior Israeli official confirmed that a 60-day ceasefire is under negotiation and could involve the release of 10 out of the 20 known living Israeli hostages. The remaining 10 would remain a top priority for Israel.
However, ongoing talks have stalled. Sources involved in the mediation told The Times of Israel that negotiations have hit a four-day impasse over the extent of Israel’s proposed military withdrawal from Gaza. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has maintained that any agreement must ensure Hamas can no longer govern or pose a threat to Israel.
Israel proposed a scaled-down military withdrawal plan last week, which Hamas rejected. Hamas claimed that Israel’s proposed establishment of a so-called “humanitarian city” in southern Gaza would serve as a containment zone to vet and restrict Gazans from leaving, while encouraging their emigration out of the territory. The plan, advanced by Defense Minister Israel Katz, has received sharp international and domestic criticism.
Trump met with Netanyahu twice last week at the White House to discuss strategies for ending the war while ensuring the return of all hostages. Israel has made clear it will proceed with operations in Gaza City—Hamas’s last stronghold—if no agreement is reached, even at the risk of the remaining Israeli captives’ lives.
Hamas has rejected numerous ceasefire proposals, raising suspicions that it is leveraging the situation to force Israel into a politically and morally difficult position. Netanyahu remains under pressure from the Israeli public to recover every hostage and deliver a decisive blow to Hamas, a balancing act that complicates the ceasefire timeline.
