Trump on Middle Eastern Peace Prospects
President Donald Trump stated on Friday that his administration is “very close” to establishing “Middle Eastern peace” following Hamas’s agreement to engage in peace talks.
In a video shared on Truth Social, Trump expressed gratitude for supporting the potential for serious negotiations and urged Hamas to free any remaining hostages.
“I would like to thank Qatar, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, and other nations involved in this effort,” he remarked. “Many individuals have worked tirelessly. This is a significant moment. Let’s see what unfolds. It’s essential to detail everything accurately.”
He emphasized the importance of bringing hostages home, stating, “We hope to reunite them with their families.” Unfortunately, he added, “some are still away from their loved ones.”
Trump underscored the potential for peace in the region, calling the day “very special” and “unprecedented” in many aspects. “I appreciate everyone involved, and I’m grateful to those great countries that have supported us,” he said.
He noted, “There’s a shared desire among many to conclude this conflict and achieve peace in the Middle East. We are very close to realizing that goal. Thank you. Everyone deserves to be treated equitably,” he concluded.
On the same day, Trump announced that Hamas had a deadline of 6 PM ET on Sunday to accept the proposed peace deal. He warned that if the agreement fell through, “all hell will break loose against Hamas, like nothing anyone has seen before.”
A few hours later, Hamas consented to release the hostages and enter peace negotiations, as reported by Al Jazeera. Palestinian factions indicated their readiness to release all Israeli prisoners—both living and deceased—as part of Trump’s exchange proposal aimed at ending the conflict in Gaza and fully withdrawing Israeli forces.
Hamas stated, “In this context, we are prepared to negotiate immediately through mediators to discuss the details of this agreement.” They also indicated a willingness to transfer authority in Gaza to independent Palestinian technocrats, emphasizing national consensus along with support from Arab and Islamic nations.
Following these developments, Trump urged Israel to “cease the bombing of Gaza.”
