Washington: US President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that his administration is nearing a potential ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip. During a meeting with African leaders, Trump stated, "I will tell you we're getting very close to a deal. I don't know if it's secret or not secret, but doesn't matter to me. We want to have a ceasefire, we want to have peace, we want to get the hostages back, and I think we're close to doing it."

According to Anadolu Agency, Trump expressed cautious optimism about the prospects of achieving a ceasefire in the near future. "I think we have a chance this week or next week. Not definitely," he remarked. "But there's a very good chance that we will have a settlement and agreement of some kind this week and maybe next week, if not."

The comments come on the heels of a statement by US Special Envoy for Peace Missions Steve Witkoff, who conveyed hope for a 60-day ceasefire agreement. "We are hopeful that by the end of this week, we will have an agreement that will bring us into a 60-day ceasefire," Witkoff mentioned, reflecting on the progress made in proximity talks.

The situation in Gaza remains dire, with the Israeli army reportedly having killed nearly 57,700 Palestinians, primarily women and children, since October 2023. The ongoing bombardment has devastated the enclave, resulting in food shortages and the spread of disease.