The American President, Donald Trump, expressed his belief that a ceasefire in Gaza could be achieved within a week.
During an event at the White House, Trump told reporters that he thinks a ceasefire in the region is imminent.
He mentioned that he had just spoken with key individuals involved in efforts to establish a ceasefire in the Palestinian territory.
Trump stated, “I believe it’s close… I just talked to some people involved… we think we will arrive at a ceasefire in the upcoming week.”
In a related development, Qatar’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Majid Al-Ansari, reported that mediators are in communication with both Israel and Hamas to leverage the recent ceasefire between Iran and Israel this week to facilitate a truce in Gaza.
Al-Ansari added, “If we do not take advantage of this opportunity and momentum, it will be a missed chance, just like many others in the recent past. We do not want to witness that again.”
He further noted, referencing the previous ceasefire that saw the release of dozens of hostages held by Hamas in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian detainees in Israel, that the impact of American pressure has been evident. It is plausible that American influence could secure another ceasefire in Gaza.”
The United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, also called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, indicating that the recent ceasefire between Israel and Iran provides a glimmer of hope.
Guterres reiterated his demands for three urgent steps: an immediate ceasefire, unconditional release of all hostages, and unimpeded humanitarian access.
Meanwhile, reports indicate that at least 49 people have died across Gaza due to Israeli airstrikes, according to medical personnel.
The airstrikes began late Friday night and continued into Saturday morning, resulting in the deaths of 12 individuals near Palestine Stadium in Gaza City, which housed displaced persons, along with eight others residing in apartments, as confirmed by officials at Shifa Hospital where the bodies were taken.
Additionally, six more individuals died in southern Gaza when a strike hit their tent in the Al-Mawasi area, according to hospital sources. Over 20 bodies were reported to have been transferred to Nasser Hospital, as per health officials.
Arrests
In another event, the Israeli military announced the arrest of six Israelis following their attack on soldiers in the central West Bank, near the village of Kafr Malik, where three Palestinians were killed according to the Palestinian Authority during an assault by Israeli settlers on the village.
Soldiers observed a group of Israeli civilians heading in vehicles toward an area designated as a closed military zone near Kafr Malik, northeast of Ramallah, according to a statement from the Israeli army.
The military added that upon the arrival of security forces, dozens of Israeli civilians began throwing stones at them and physically and verbally assaulted the soldiers, further noting that the civilians vandalized security vehicles and attempted to run over personnel. The gathering was eventually dispersed, and the six Israeli civilians were arrested and handed over to Israeli police.