US President Donald Trump says a Gaza agreement is imminent, promising hostage releases and an end to the war.
Trump Announces Gaza Agreement Progress
Donald Trump stated on Friday that a Gaza agreement is close, saying, “We have a deal on Gaza. We are near this deal. It looks like we have a Gaza agreement. This deal will allow us to recover hostages; it will be a deal that ends the war. There will be peace.” The US this week proposed a 21-point peace plan for the Middle East, including a permanent ceasefire and the release of all Israeli hostages held by Hamas. Trump held talks with representatives from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, Indonesia, and Pakistan earlier in the week. On Thursday, he spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Critical Conditions in Gaza
On Thursday, the UN humanitarian agency OCHA reported that “as the Israeli assault on Gaza intensifies, conditions in the southern part of the war-torn enclave are so dire that displaced and starving residents are sleeping in open, rubble-strewn areas.” The agency also noted that several health facilities and community kitchens have been shut down this month due to Israeli military operations. Out of 94 attempted coordinated humanitarian efforts with Israeli authorities, only 35 were successful. Since October 7, 2023, over 65,000 people have been killed in Gaza, with more than 167,000 injured. By September 19, 440 people, including 147 children, had died from malnutrition.
