Trump promises ‘good news on Gaza’ ceasefire after Israel reportedly agrees to more concessions

U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters on Wednesday that there is “some good news on Gaza,” without going into detail. 

President Trump made the comments during a bill signing ceremony at the White House, in which special Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff was present. 

“Special thanks to special envoy Witkoff, great job, Steve,” Trump said during the signing ceremony. “We have some good news on Gaza and good news on a couple of things that we’re working on at a very high level.” 

The U.S. president did not provide any other details, but his comments came as reports in Israeli media said that ceasefire talks appeared to be progressing well after Israel backtracked on its demand to control the Morag Corridor during the 60-day ceasefire. 

Those reports were apparently based on a report on the Egyptian Al-Ghad TV channel, according to which, the IDF agreed to withdraw from the Morag Corridor and only hold security barriers to a depth of 1 km (about half a mile) around the borders of the Gaza Strip.

The Egyptian report said that Hamas had agreed to those terms and that discussions were shifting to other issues. 

Reports in Hebrew media said that current discussions are related to the issue of Rafah, where Israel intends to establish a humanitarian city, to which much of the Gaza population would be transferred to remove them from Hamas control. 

Times of Israel cited an Arab diplomat who said that Israel’s current withdrawal proposal for Gaza would make attempts to construct the humanitarian city less likely.  

Meanwhile, a senior Israeli official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told reporters on Wednesday evening that he believes a deal in Gaza is “more likely than not,” given the current track of negotiations. 

“I believe a deal is attainable,” the Israeli official said. “It’s not simple. Negotiating with Hamas isn’t easy or short, and I can’t give a timeline, but it is within reach.” 

Hamas, for its part, has reportedly agreed to give up its demand for an Israeli guarantee of permanent ceasefire as a condition for the hostage-ceasefire deal, receiving instead a personal assurance from President Trump that the 60-day ceasefire will remain in effect until the sides reach an agreement on a permanent ceasefire. 

However, reserve Brig. Gen. Effi Eitam told Army Radio on Thursday morning that “the war is not over.” He said the whole focus for Israel is getting ten more living hostages. 

“It is clear that a deal is being made for the 10 living hostages, and the Israeli government is going above and beyond to reach a deal,” he commented. However, he believes this is only temporary. 

“There will be a deal and there will be 60 days in which we will receive 10 more captives, and then not only will we go back to fighting, but we will not stop fighting,” Eitam said.

“It's better for us to have freedom of action without an agreement, than an agreement that will tie our hands mentally and practically.”