Others questioned whether Trump’s statements would deliver long-term peace, saying it was not the first time he had said a peace deal was close.
“We hope he is serious like he was serious during the Israeli-Iranian war when he said the war should stop, and it stopped,” said Adnan Al Assar, a resident of Khan Younis in Gaza’s south.
There is growing public pressure on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to reach a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and end the nearly two-year-long war, a move strongly opposed by hardline members of his right-wing ruling coalition.
At the same time, US and Israeli strikes on nuclear sites in Iran and a recently agreed ceasefire in last month’s 12-day conflict have put pressure on Hamas, which is backed by Tehran.
Israeli leaders also believe that, with Iran weakened, other countries in the region have an opportunity to forge ties with Israel.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said a majority within the coalition government would back an agreement that would see the release of the remaining hostages held by Hamas militants in Gaza.
“If there is an opportunity to do so – we must not miss it!”, he wrote on X. Of 50 hostages still held, around 20 are believed to be still alive.
Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid posted that his party could provide a safety net if hardline members of the Cabinet opposed a deal, effectively pledging not to back a no-confidence motion in parliament that could topple the government.
