US president foresees Gaza ceasefire by next week

US President Donald Trump has expressed hope that a ceasefire could be reached in the Gaza Strip as early as next week, offering a rare note of optimism amid the intensifying conflict between Israel and Hamas.

Trump addressed the deteriorating situation in the region and the ongoing diplomatic efforts to bring an end to the violence, Caliber.Az reports, citing a White House press conference.

He said that they believed a ceasefire would be reached within the next week, suggesting that negotiations were progressing behind the scenes. The president described the current conditions in Gaza as “horrible,” citing the heavy civilian toll and worsening humanitarian crisis. He emphasised that the US is actively contributing humanitarian aid to the region. He noted that they were sending a lot of supplies and food.

Trump added that this was something that had to be done because people were dying there. The war in the Gaza Strip has been ongoing since October 2023, when the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched an incursion into Israel, killing and capturing hundreds of Israelis and foreigners. In January 2025, Israel and Hamas reached a ceasefire agreement and began implementing a prisoner exchange. 

Several rounds of exchanges took place over the next three months, but by mid-March, militants started delaying the process, prompting Israeli forces to resume large-scale military operations in the enclave. In May, the Israeli military launched a major campaign named Operation Gideon’s Chariots, involving airstrikes targeting Hamas infrastructure and positions. Israel aims to establish full control over the Gaza Strip through this operation. The fighting has caused widespread destruction across Gaza, resulting in tens of thousands of deaths. On June 18 alone, dozens of residents were killed as a result of Israeli shelling and airstrikes.

By Naila Huseynova