Trump expresses cautious optimism on Israel-Hamas ceasefire talks

President Donald Trump on July 14 expressed cautious optimism that a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas could be reached within the coming week, as U.S.-backed negotiations continue to gain traction behind the scenes.

Speaking to reporters, Trump said the United States supports a plan that would begin with a 60-day ceasefire, accompanied by phased hostage releases, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from parts of Gaza, and a roadmap for broader negotiations aimed at ending the months-long conflict, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

“We are talking and hopefully we’re going to get that straightened out over the next week,” Trump said, without elaborating on the current status of the talks.

The President’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, also struck an upbeat tone during a briefing in Teterboro, New Jersey. Witkoff said he planned to meet with senior Qatari officials on the sidelines of the FIFA Club World Cup final on Sunday evening, in an effort to maintain diplomatic momentum. Qatar has played a key mediating role between Israel and Hamas in past negotiations.

Despite the growing international pressure for a ceasefire, deep divisions persist within Israeli society. Families of hostages held by Hamas issued a strong statement rejecting any partial deal that would leave some captives behind.

“These hostages will remain captive for many years and Hamas will have no incentive to release them once it gets everything it wants,” the statement warned, urging both Israeli and international negotiators to pursue a comprehensive agreement that guarantees the return of all hostages.

The group also took aim at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accusing him of sacrificing military achievements in exchange for what they view as an inadequate diplomatic compromise. “The government is abandoning the gains made at great cost to the military and the people,” they said.

By Vugar Khalilov