U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli army chief Eyal Zamir have indicated that a ceasefire in Gaza may be on the horizon. Zamir, speaking to Israeli media, noted that conditions have been established to potentially advance negotiations aimed at ending the conflict, including the release of hostages. He highlighted the significant damage inflicted on Hamas’s governance and military capabilities as a contributing factor to these negotiations.

During a televised address, Zamir stated, ‘We have achieved many significant results, we have caused great damage to the governance and military capabilities of Hamas.’ He expressed hope that the current military operations could facilitate progress towards a diplomatic solution.

President Trump, during a visit with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington, also reflected optimism regarding the ceasefire talks. He remarked, ‘I think we have a chance this week, or next week,’ while maintaining that nothing was certain about the volatile situation in Gaza.

Hamas has expressed its commitment to the discussions, stating they have shown flexibility by agreeing to release ten prisoners. However, they caution that key issues remain unresolved, including the flow of aid, the withdrawal of military presence, and securing guarantees for a lasting ceasefire. Reports suggest that the ceasefire could last sixty days and involve the release of hostages in waves, conditional on the ceasefire agreement being established.