US President Donald Trump speaks during a news conference in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC. AFP
"They’re very close to an agreement on Gaza, and we’ll let you know about it during the day or maybe tomorrow," he told reporters on Friday.
Trump's optimistic outlook follows Thursday's announcement by the White House that Israel had accepted a new US proposal for a temporary ceasefire.
Sources told Al Arabiya that Trump was expected to reveal details of the proposal within hours, with the Saudi outlet claiming that Israel and Hamas had reached an agreement.
Al-Qahera News reported that the proposal, attributed to Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, has not yet been formally endorsed by Hamas, which says it is still studying the terms.
Although US negotiators have not publicized the terms of the proposed deal, a leaked draft with details of the agreement has circulated.
A Hamas official and an Egyptian official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive talks, said Thursday that it called for a 60-day pause, guarantees of serious negotiations leading to a long-term truce and assurances that Israel will not resume hostilities after the release of captives, as it did in March.
However, changes may have been made.
In a statement on Thursday, Hamas said it was "reviewing the proposal responsibly, aiming to protect Palestinian interests, provide humanitarian relief, and secure a permanent ceasefire in Gaza."
However, a Hamas official later said the new plan did not meet its demands, including "halting the war and famine" in Gaza.
The group has raised concerns that the proposal could allow Israel to resume its genocidal campaign in Gaza, a key Israeli demand and sticking point in any potential agreement.
*This story was edited by Ahram Online.
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