US President Donald Trump on Wednesday expressed confidence that a ceasefire deal to end the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza was close, citing positive updates from his special envoy, Steve Witkoff.
“I think great progress is being made on Gaza,” Trump told reporters. “Gaza is very close,” he added, linking the momentum to Tuesday’s ceasefire between Israel and Iran, a key backer of Hamas.
The renewed hope for peace comes amid rising domestic and international calls for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to end the prolonged conflict. Critics include opposition lawmakers, hostage families, and even members of his ruling coalition.
Qatar, a key mediator, announced a new ceasefire initiative on Tuesday. Hamas confirmed on Wednesday that contacts with Egyptian and Qatari negotiators had intensified, although no new proposals had been received yet.
Meanwhile, Israel said negotiations to secure the release of hostages are still ongoing both militarily and diplomatically.
Mounting Casualties and Public Pressure
Israel launched its military campaign in Gaza following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack that killed 1,219 people, mostly civilians, according to official data. In response, Israeli forces invaded Gaza to root out Hamas and recover hostages.
According to Gaza’s health ministry, at least 56,156 people, mostly civilians, have been killed by Israeli strikes. The UN has said these figures are considered reliable.
In one of the deadliest incidents for Israeli forces, seven soldiers were killed Tuesday in southern Gaza, bringing the military’s death toll in the territory to 441.
The losses sparked rare dissent within the Israeli government. Moshe Gafni, a senior figure in Netanyahu’s coalition, questioned the continued purpose of the war. “Soldiers are getting killed all the time,” he told the Knesset.
At the funeral of 20-year-old Staff Sergeant Ronel Ben-Moshe, mourners and fellow soldiers voiced growing fatigue and trauma from the war. A former soldier who served with him said, “I have seen so many kids like me die. It’s time for it to stop.”
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum also urged an end to the war, stating it had “run its course” and lacked a clear direction. Of the 251 hostages taken during the October 2023 attack, 49 remain in Gaza — 27 of them presumed dead.
Humanitarian Crisis Worsens
The humanitarian toll continues to deepen. On Wednesday, Gaza’s civil defence agency reported that 35 people, including six waiting for food aid, were killed by Israeli gunfire in central Gaza. The Israeli military said it was unaware of the incident.
The UN has strongly criticized the “weaponisation of food” in Gaza, pointing fingers at the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) — a US- and Israeli-backed group operating outside the UN system.
Since the GHF began operations in late May, nearly 550 people have reportedly been killed while trying to access aid, according to Gaza’s health ministry. GHF, however, denies any fatal incidents occurring near its aid sites.
What you should know
While President Trump and international mediators push for a breakthrough, conditions in Gaza remain dire, with a staggering civilian death toll and food insecurity spiraling. Meanwhile, Israel faces growing internal pressure to end the war, as global attention shifts toward renewed peace efforts.
