Trump Suggests Possible Deal in Gaza
WASHINGTON – On Friday, President Donald Trump informed reporters that “it looks like there’s a deal with Gaza.”
As he was leaving the Southern Lawn of the White House to head to the Ryder Cup, he shared updates regarding a potential agreement aimed at concluding the Israeli-Hamas conflict.
“We may have a deal with Gaza. I think it’s very close to a deal in Gaza… And it looks like we’re doing business with Gaza, and we’ll let you know,” Trump stated while addressing the press.
He further explained, “I think it’s a contract to get the hostages back. It’s going to be a deal that ends the war,” claiming that if the agreement comes to fruition, it would mark the eighth conflict or war resolved during his presidency.
Currently, Hamas is holding 48 hostages, with about 20 believed to still be alive.
Trump’s remarks followed a statement he made the previous day in the Oval Office, where he declared he wouldn’t permit Israel to annex the West Bank. Additionally, in response to calls for the recognition of a Palestinian state, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has considered such actions.
The West Bank, known to Israelis as Judea and Samaria, comprises Palestinian Arab towns, farms, Jewish settlements, and historic sites. It was taken by Jordan in 1948 as Arab forces sought to eliminate Israel after its declaration of independence. While Jordan expelled Jewish residents, it did not establish a Palestinian state there. In the 1967 war—following Jordan’s attack on Israel—Israel secured more territory.
Since then, the Palestinians, along with those in Gaza, have advocated for the West Bank as a crucial part of their desired nation. However, Jewish communities have also been established there, reclaiming historical sites and creating new settlements. Israel’s motivations for annexation stem from security and ideological viewpoints, even though such moves are a point of contention in the Arab world. The Abraham Accords emerged after Netanyahu retracted threats of annexation in 2020.
In recent weeks, Israeli considerations for a response have escalated, especially after several Western nations indicated they would recognize a Palestinian state. This move comes amid the ongoing hostage situation involving Hamas. Netanyahu has since approved the development of a community east of Jerusalem, which complicates the prospects for a contiguous Palestinian state on the West Bank. There are also discussions about full annexation of the territory into Israel.
Since assuming office, Trump has been involved in resolving disputes between various countries, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda, Armenia and Azerbaijan, Egypt and Ethiopia, Israel and Iran, Cambodia and Thailand, and Pakistan and India. A Turkish provincial media outlet recently reported that he has also prevented a potential escalation between Serbia and Kosovo.
