Trump Predicts 'Decisive End' to Gaza War Within Weeks, Cites 'Serious Diplomatic Effort'

Trump Predicts Imminent End to Gaza Conflict

Former US President Donald Trump declared on Monday that the Gaza war would see a “decisive end” within the next two to three weeks, adding that there was a “very serious diplomatic effort” underway to end the nearly two-year-long conflict.

“I think that you’ll see in two to three weeks you’re going to see a pretty clear, decisive ending,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.

However, the basis for Trump’s prediction was not immediately clear. Israel has made it clear that it is not interested in the phased ceasefire deal that Hamas accepted last week, and is instead moving forward with plans to conquer Gaza City — an operation that is expected to take at least several months.

It’s worth noting that Trump has repeatedly used the “two weeks” timeframe to predict major domestic and international events, including the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Iranian nuclear negotiations, and tariff talks, but these predictions have often fallen flat. Earlier this summer, he repeatedly predicted an imminent hostage deal that ultimately failed to materialize.

Diplomatic Efforts and Demands for War's End

Trump’s statements come as domestic pressure is mounting within Israel on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to accept a temporary ceasefire. Earlier this month, after Israel decided to move forward with plans to conquer Gaza City, Hamas accepted a proposed deal: the release of 10 living hostages in exchange for Palestinian security prisoners during a 60-day ceasefire; the ceasefire could be extended to a second phase if the sides agreed on terms for a permanent ceasefire.

IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir reportedly said this week that “There is a (hostage) deal on the table, and we need to take it.” Recently, centrist MK Benny Gantz called on opposition leaders to join Netanyahu’s government to accept the deal and sideline his far-right allies, but other centrist objectors rejected the suggestion.

In related news, the families of 50 hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip planned an all-day protest on Tuesday to pressure for the release of the hostages. Israel believes that at least 20 hostages are still alive, but Trump said on Monday at a separate event that the number was lower.

Israel’s security cabinet is scheduled to meet on Tuesday, but there are conflicting reports as to whether the meeting will discuss the ceasefire deal or plans to conquer Gaza City.

Conditions for Ending the War

After Trump predicted an end to the Gaza war, a reporter asked whether the US was engaging in diplomatic efforts to make that happen.

“There is, indeed… a very serious diplomatic effort,” Trump responded. Also present, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio added that one of the conditions for ending the war was that Hamas no longer lead Gaza, which is one of Israel’s core demands.

“That effort has never stopped. We are always looking for solutions. We want the war to end. But it has to be on the premise of Hamas being gone,” Rubio said.

For his part, Netanyahu said on Monday that the planned offensive remained a priority, saying his security cabinet ordered the military in a “crystal-clear” decision to take over Gaza City in the coming months.

“Israel will act firmly and forcefully to return all of our hostages and to defeat Hamas,” Netanyahu said while meeting Iowa Republican Senator Joni Ernst at his office in Jerusalem, his office said in a statement. Netanyahu hosted Ernst in April, and told her that “these missions are intertwined.”

US Role in Negotiations

In addition, Steve Witkoff, the envoy leading US mediation of the hostage deal, reiterated that Trump’s social media declaration last week that “the remaining hostages will only be released after Hamas is destroyed” was the reason for the recent progress in ceasefire talks.

“If it wasn’t for the president’s statement last week, we wouldn’t have made any progress. It was a warning to Hamas, that they better move and get back to the negotiating table,” Witkoff said in the Oval Office.

However, two Arab diplomats familiar with the negotiations told The Times of Israel that Hamas approved the latest ceasefire agreement when Trump made his post on Truth Social on August 18.

The US, like Israel, has not indicated whether it supports the latest agreement accepted by Hamas. The Arab diplomats said that the agreement is almost the same one that Witkoff proposed months ago. Previously, Egypt and Qatar had successfully persuaded Hamas to drop demands it made in late July that led to the stalling of negotiations.

The White House said last week that it was reviewing the agreement, but has not followed up. Israel has also not commented on the agreement as it moves forward with its offensive on Gaza City.

Humanitarian Crisis and US Aid

In the context of a UN report stating that famine has broken out in Gaza, Trump was also asked whether he has been in contact with Netanyahu lately.

Trump said he has a good relationship with the Israeli Prime Minister, noting that they worked together to combat the Iranian nuclear program.

“Now they’re discussing Gaza City. They’re always discussing something,” he said. He added, “It will be solved someday… You better solve it quickly.”

He concluded, “That being said, the war has to end, because the starvation and other problems — what’s worse than starvation is death, pure death, people are being killed.”

The president also reiterated his claim that the US has provided $60 million in humanitarian aid to Gaza. The US State Department confirmed two weeks ago that the actual amount was $30 million, and that only half had been transferred to the controversial, US and Israeli-backed “Gaza Humanitarian Fund.”Hundreds have been shot around the Fund's distribution points, where the IDF patrols the surrounding area. The IDF has admitted to firing “warning shots” near crowds, but has said that the death toll has been exaggerated, without providing concrete figures.