Trump says there’s a good chance for Gaza hostage and ceasefire deal this week

U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday (July 6, 2025) said there was a good chance a Gaza hostage release and ceasefire deal could be reached with the Palestinian militant group Hamas this week.

Mr. Trump told reporters before departing for Washington that such a deal meant “quite a few hostages” could be released.

Mr. Trump is due to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday (July 7, 2025) at the White House.

Indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas were underway in Qatar Sunday.

“We’ve gotten a lot of the hostages out, but pertaining to the remaining hostages, quite a few of them will be coming out,” Mr. Trump added.

He said the United States was “working on a lot of things” with Israel, including “probably a permanent deal with Iran.”

Since the start of Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza, mediators have brokered pauses in fighting during which hostages were freed in exchange for Israel-held Palestinian prisoners.

Of the 251 hostages taken by Palestinian militants during the October 2023 attack, 49 are still being held in Gaza, including 27 the Israeli military says are dead.