President Donald Trump said Thursday that a breakthrough on a Gaza war deal is within reach, declaring that “we can get it done” as negotiations intensify over a U.S.-backed peace plan. Speaking after meetings with regional officials, Trump stressed that he still needs to hold talks with Israeli leaders but expressed confidence that a ceasefire agreement could soon be finalized.
U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff confirmed that Trump had presented a comprehensive 21-point plan to several Muslim-majority countries on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly earlier this week. The proposal calls for a permanent ceasefire, the release of hostages, the deployment of an international stabilization force, and the exclusion of Hamas from governing Gaza in favor of an interim Palestinian body with international oversight. Arab leaders welcomed the initiative in principle but insisted on a role for the Palestinian Authority, an issue that remains sensitive for Israel.
Witkoff said he was optimistic a breakthrough could be reached within days, pointing to progress in narrowing differences between the parties. Trump himself has insisted that Israel has already accepted key terms for a 60-day ceasefire, urging Hamas to agree or face, in his words, “very severe consequences.” He added, “You’ll be hearing about it pretty soon. We’re trying to get it ended, get the hostages back.”
The diplomatic push comes as fighting continues in Gaza. Israeli strikes in recent days have killed at least 17 Palestinians, including children, while aid agencies warn that humanitarian conditions are deteriorating sharply, with famine-like shortages reported in parts of the enclave. Trump has argued that the U.S. must play a central role in enforcing any deal and has vowed that Washington will act as a guarantor of the agreement once it is signed.
Despite the growing sense of momentum, challenges remain. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been reluctant to endorse a larger political role for the Palestinian Authority in Gaza, while Hamas has reportedly given a cautious but “positive response” to the U.S. plan, pending clarification on implementation terms. Meanwhile, dozens of House Democrats are preparing to call on Trump to formally recognize Palestinian statehood, signaling rising political pressure at home.
Trump is expected to meet with Netanyahu in Washington in the coming days to hammer out final details of the plan. For now, U.S. officials remain hopeful that the combination of diplomatic pressure, regional involvement, and the worsening humanitarian crisis could create the conditions for an agreement. As Witkoff put it, “the breakthrough is close — the question is whether all sides are ready to take it.”
