U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday that negotiations over Gaza with governments across the Middle East are under way “intensely” and will continue until an agreement is reached, adding that both Israel and Hamas are being kept informed.
Trump met leaders and senior officials from several Muslim-majority countries this week to discuss the conflict. U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff said Trump presented a 21-point Middle East peace proposal during the talks.
“Intense negotiations have been going on for four days,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform, saying they would continue “as long as necessary” and that “all of the countries within the region are involved.” He offered no further details but called the discussions “inspired and productive.”
Trump campaigned on ending the Gaza war swiftly, but a settlement has remained elusive eight months into his term. His tenure opened with a two-month ceasefire between Israel and Hamas that collapsed on March 18, when Israeli strikes killed 400 Palestinians.
Despite continued Israeli bombardments, Trump officials said this week that a breakthrough in Gaza was likely soon.
Images of starving Palestinians — including children — have fueled global outrage over Israel’s offensive, which has killed tens of thousands and displaced Gaza’s entire population, according to local and international monitors. Multiple rights experts, scholars and a U.N. inquiry have said Israel’s conduct amounts to genocide. Israel rejects that characterization, saying it is acting in self-defense after Hamas’ Oct. 2023 attack that killed 1,200 people and in which more than 250 were taken hostage.