Washington- President Donald Trump said Thursday he believes the United States is “close to getting some kind of deal done” to address the nearly two-year conflict in Gaza, following meetings with a group of regional leaders and a bilateral Oval Office session with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Trump’s comments came as U.S. officials and envoys pressed a new, multilateral push to secure a ceasefire, win the release of hostages held by Hamas and lay groundwork for a broader stabilization plan for Gaza. White House envoy Steve Witkoff has been coordinating with mediators from Egypt, Qatar and other partners on a package of measures the administration says could form the basis of an interim agreement.
In brief remarks alongside Erdoğan, Trump said he wanted to “get Gaza over with” and repeated his belief that progress was possible soon. U.S. officials described the outreach at the United Nations General Assembly as an attempt to tighten a diplomatic corridor that the administration hopes will bridge disagreements between Israel, regional Arab states and Palestinian representatives.
But expectations on the ground remain cautious. Israel has continued military operations in Gaza City, and humanitarian groups warn that conditions inside the territory are catastrophic. Hamas, which controls Gaza, has shown only intermittent engagement with U.S. and Egyptian mediators, and previous ceasefire talks have repeatedly stalled over the pace and sequencing of hostage releases, prisoner exchanges and operational guarantees.
Observers say the path from positive diplomatic language to a durable agreement is fraught. Key sticking points include the scope of any ceasefire, the number and timing of hostage releases, the presence and role of international forces or monitors, and long-term arrangements for Gaza’s governance and reconstruction. Some Arab capitals and European partners have urged a framework that balances Israeli security demands with urgent humanitarian relief and safeguards for Palestinian civilians.
The White House has been under pressure to show progress: families of hostages, Congress members and allied governments alike want concrete outcomes. Trump’s public optimism will likely be tested in the coming days as negotiators try to translate the broad outlines discussed at the UN into a detailed, verifiable agreement acceptable to all parties.
