US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas was “very close” to being reached and that negotiations were “going well,” signaling the possibility of a historic breakthrough in Middle East peace efforts. Speaking from the White House, the US president told reporters:
"We have a great team there, great negotiators. Unfortunately, there are great negotiators on the other side as well. But it's something I think will happen, there's a good chance it will happen."
Trump also warned that he may travel to the Middle East over the weekend to personally participate in the final phase of the talks.
"I could go there sometime towards the end of the week, maybe Sunday actually, and there's a good chance the negotiations will go very well," he said, adding that "almost everyone" is involved in the negotiating process, including Muslim and Arab countries.
Israeli media also talk about progress in the talks, which came after a new offer from Hamas, which has submitted detailed information on the 20 living hostages still being held captive.
Israeli analysts say that Hamas has demanded that Israel hand over the bodies of all dead hostages, while the Israeli side has pledged to immediately begin the process of releasing Palestinian prisoners once it is confirmed that all hostages are in Hamas' possession.
Sources close to the Israeli government have announced that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's cabinet has already begun drafting an official proposal, which will be submitted for a vote in the Knesset (Israeli parliament) once the final text of the agreement is finalized.
According to reports from The Times of Israel, the "first phase" of the agreement is expected to be signed tomorrow, marking a decisive moment after months of intense fighting and complicated negotiations.
This initial phase, according to sources involved in the mediation process, will include the immediate release of hostages who are still alive, in exchange for a complete ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
