U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday that a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas could be reached as early as next week, citing a "positive" response from the Palestinian group to a U.S.-backed proposal, according to media reports. "There could be a deal on a Gaza ceasefire by next week," Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One, noting that he had yet to receive a full briefing on the ongoing negotiations. Hamas confirmed it had delivered a "positive response" to mediators from Egypt and Qatar and expressed readiness to "immediately enter into a round of negotiations regarding the mechanism for implementing this framework." A senior Hamas official said the group was seeking guarantees for a full Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza and a permanent ceasefire. Trump reportedly indicated that the proposed agreement includes a 60-day truce, which could be extended further if conditions are met. The diplomatic developments came amid continuing violence in Gaza. At least 20 Palestinians were killed on Friday while attempting to access humanitarian aid, according to officials at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis. The UN has reported that 613 Palestinians have died in the past month alone while seeking food. In another deadly incident, Israeli airstrikes on Gaza's Muwasi area killed at least 15 people, including eight women and a child, local hospitals said. The Israeli military said it was reviewing the circumstances of the attacks. The current war began on Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel, killing around 1,200 people and taking approximately 250 hostages. Since then, Gaza health authorities say more than 57,000 Palestinians have been killed in the conflict. International legal pressure has mounted on Israel in recent months. The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants last November for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Israel is also facing genocide proceedings at the International Court of Justice. — Agencies
