Trump says Gaza ceasefire possible ‘within next week’

United States President Donald Trump said on Friday (local time) that a ceasefire could be possible in Gaza and an agreement could be reached between Israel and Hamas as early as next week. He made the remarks at the White House during an event celebrating a Congo-Rwanda accord,. 

President Donald Trump answers questions from reporters as he meets with Congo’s Foreign Minister Therese Kayikwamba Wagner, and Rwanda’s Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe on Friday, June 27, 2025.(AP)

When asked about a possible ceasefire in war-ridden Gaza, Trump said, “We think within the next week, we’re going to get a ceasefire,” reported AFP. 

This comes months after the United States brokered a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel during the start of this year as former US President Joe Biden passed the reins to Donald Trump.

In January this year, a phase-wise ceasefire was announced between Israel and Hamas. However, just months later in March, Israel declared the ceasefire over and started pounding Gaza again. 

The war, which was triggered after Hamas’ devastating attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, has been going on for about 20 months now. 

While Israel lost over 1,200 people during Hamas’ attack, Gaza’s health ministry claims that Israel’s military campaign has killed at least 56,331 people, mostly civilians, in Gaza.

Palestinians killed while seeking aid 

Palestinians, facing the threat of famine due to lack of food and other basic essentials, have reportedly been killed in Israeli attacks while seeking aid at distribution centres recently. 

Israel allowed food deliveries in Gaza after around two months of blockade to resume through the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which includes US security contractors working alongside Israeli troops, reported AFP.

However, according to Gaza’s health ministry, over 500 people have been killed near aid centres while seeking scarce supplies since late May.

On Thursday, the United States announced it would support the effort with $30 million in approved funding.

“We’re supplying, as you know, a lot of money and a lot of food to that area,” Trump said on Friday, the report added. 

According to a report by left-leaning Israeli newspaper Haaretz, unnamed soldiers have claimed that commanders ordered them to fire at crowds near aid distribution points to disperse them, even when there was no threat. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has denied the report.

With AFP inputs.