World News: Middle East

Middle East: U.S. President Donald Trump Hopes to Get Gaza Straightened Out Over Next Week

Written by Edda Bevilacqua

U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters, following his return from the FIFA World Cup, that he hoped to have a ceasefire in Gaza within a week. He said, “Gaza, we are talking and hopefully, we’re going to get that straightened out over the next week. Let’s see what happens.”

A senior Israel official said that a 60-day ceasefire was imminent and would likely involve the release of ten of the twenty Israeli hostages still alive. The Israeli government will retain its goal of releasing the last ten hostages, while also expelling Hamas and its leaders from Gaza. Hamas has rejected many previous ceasefire agreements. If it doesn’t agree to a deal, Israel has said it will enter Gaza City, posing a risk to the remaining Israeli hostages. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces great political risk in continuing the conflict if Hamas rejects the present deal.