U.S. Expresses Hope For Gaza Peace Deal As Trump’s Deadline Approaches
The United States has expressed confidence that a long-awaited peace agreement between Israel and Hamas could soon be concluded as President Donald Trump’s deadline for ending the Gaza war draws near.
U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, said on Sunday that negotiations were closer than ever to securing the release of all hostages held in Gaza but admitted that some critical aspects of Trump’s peace plan still required resolution.
“This is the closest we’ve come to getting all of the hostages released — every single one, all 48, including the 28 who are deceased. But there are still a lot of pitfalls along the way. There’s some work to be done here,” Rubio told ABC News’ This Week.
He explained that technical talks were ongoing and stressed the need for swift implementation of the first phase of the deal, which focuses on the release of hostages.
“President Trump wants to see it happen quickly. We cannot be here three weeks from now still talking about logistics. The hostages must be released fast for the rest of this deal to gain momentum,” he said.
Rubio revealed that U.S. negotiators hoped to resolve most outstanding issues before fresh talks in Cairo on Monday with Egyptian mediators.
“Our hope is that by the time our team gets to Cairo, 90 per cent of this has been worked out, and we’re just finalising the logistics,” he added.
President Trump had on Friday given Hamas until Sunday evening to accept the U.S.-proposed Gaza peace framework or face American support for Israel to “finish the job” in Gaza.
Hamas responded by expressing readiness to release the hostages but requested clarification on several points in Trump’s 20-point proposal.
Under the framework, Israel would release more than 1,900 Palestinian prisoners — including 250 serving life sentences — in exchange for all hostages, dead or alive. The plan also calls for Hamas to disarm and dismantle its military infrastructure in exchange for future amnesty.
In return, Israel would gradually withdraw from Gaza, allowing an International Stabilisation Force led by Arab nations to take temporary control.
The U.S. delegation to Cairo will include Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Senior Adviser Jared Kushner, as Washington seeks to bridge the final gaps between Israel and Hamas.
Egypt’s foreign ministry confirmed that both sides are expected to resume negotiations on Monday, with hopes of reaching a final agreement that could end the conflict.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
