US President-elect Donald Trump said on Monday that he believed a hostage and ceasefire deal could be completed by the end of the week.
“And I understand it’s, it’s been – there’s been a handshake and they’re getting it finished,” Mr Trump said in a Newsmax interview. “But it has to take place.”
He did not further elaborate.
Mr Trump’s incoming Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff is in the region and has met with Israeli and Qatari officials in recent days.
He is closely co-ordinating with President Joe Biden’s outgoing Middle East envoy Brett McGurk, who has been in Doha for several days.
Mr Trump last week warned that “all hell” would be unleashed on Hamas if a deal is not reached before his inauguration on January 20.
He reiterated his warning for Hamas to come to terms with the Israelis.
“If they don’t get it done,” Mr Trump said.
“There’s going to be a lot of trouble out there, a lot of trouble like they have never seen before.”
