Trump says a Gaza truce agreement is imminent amid talks in Qatar.

As indirect talks between Israel and Hamas continue in Doha, Qatar, US President Donald Trump said Sunday he is hopeful that a ceasefire agreement in Gaza could be finalised in the next few days.

“Gaza — we are talking, and hopefully we’re going to get that straightened out over the next week,” Trump told reporters at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland.

The remarks coincide with a renewed effort by Qatar and Egypt to broker a 60-day ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian resistance organisation Hamas.

Trump had earlier stated that Hamas had responded favourably to the framework and that Israel had agreed to the suggested terms for the short-term truce. In exchange for a halt in hostilities and the release of Palestinian prisoners, the agreement, if it is finalised, would release 10 Israeli hostages who are still alive and 18 who have died while they are in Gaza.

An Israeli delegation was sent to Doha over the weekend to continue negotiations, despite Israeli officials’ public protests of what they described as “unacceptable” changes made by Hamas. This indicates that both parties are still involved in diplomatic efforts.

According to reports, negotiators have made headway on a number of issues, but Israel’s insistence on keeping control of a “buffer zone” surrounding Gaza’s perimeter throughout the truce is still a major barrier. This requirement has been rejected by Hamas, which sees it as a de facto occupation.

Even if a ceasefire is implemented, Israeli officials have stated that they still plan to keep a military presence in Rafah, Gaza’s southernmost city. Human rights organisations and international observers have strongly criticised Israel’s proposal to set up a “collection camp” in the region with the intention of processing and possibly sending Palestinians to third countries.

In the hopes that a short-term ceasefire could set the stage for longer-term, more comprehensive peace talks, the US administration has remained supportive of the Qatari-Egyptian mediation effort. Analysts are still wary, though, noting that previous attempts have frequently failed at the last minute because of mistrust and conflicting political agendas on both sides.

The Gaza health ministry reports that more than 52,000 Palestinians have died and hundreds of thousands have been displaced as a result of the conflict, which was rekindled in October of last year. Significant losses have also been sustained by the Israeli side, mostly in the early stages of Hamas’ October 7 incursion.