by Emmitt Barry, with reporting from Worthy News Jerusalem Bureau Staff
(Worthy News) – U.S. President Donald Trump claimed Monday that the war in Gaza will reach a “conclusive ending” within the next two to three weeks, though it remains unclear what his forecast is based on.
“I think within the next two to three weeks, you’re going to have pretty good, conclusive — a conclusive ending,” Trump told reporters during a press briefing in the Oval Office. He acknowledged, however, that the conflict is deeply rooted, adding: “It’s a hard thing to say because they’ve been fighting for thousands of years. But I think we’re doing a very good job.”
The president’s prediction comes as Israel presses forward with plans to capture Gaza City, a military campaign expected to take several months. Jerusalem has signaled little interest in the phased ceasefire proposal that Hamas accepted last week, despite mediation efforts by Egypt and Qatar.
Trump, who has previously invoked “two-week” timelines for issues ranging from the Russia-Ukraine war to Iranian nuclear talks, said the fighting “has to end,” stressing that “people can’t forget October 7,” the date of Hamas’s deadly assault on Israel.
Asked if Washington was making a push to end the war, Trump said there had been “a very serious diplomatic push,” before deferring to Secretary of State Marco Rubio. “It [has] never stopped. We’ve always looked to find a solution. We want it to end. [But] it has to end with no Hamas,” Rubio said, aligning the administration with Israel’s demand for Hamas’s complete defeat before peace can be declared.
U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff also weighed in, crediting Trump’s recent Truth Social post — in which the president declared that hostages would only be freed once Hamas was destroyed — with prompting progress in long-stalled negotiations. “We wouldn’t be anywhere but for the president’s truth last week,” Witkoff said.
But two Arab diplomats told The Times of Israel that Hamas had already accepted the latest ceasefire proposal before Trump’s August 18 post, raising questions about the administration’s narrative. The U.S. has yet to declare its position on the deal, which closely mirrors earlier proposals advanced with American backing.
Pressed about relations with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu amid reports of famine in Gaza, Trump said he maintained a good relationship with the premier, recalling their cooperation on Iran’s nuclear program. On the ongoing war, he commented: “Right now, they’re talking about Gaza City. They’re always talking about something. At some point, it’s going to get settled… You better get it settled soon.”
The president also repeated his claim that Washington has provided $60 million in humanitarian aid for Gaza. The State Department, however, confirmed earlier this month that the U.S. contribution stands at $30 million, with only half of those funds disbursed so far.
Copyright 1999-2025 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
More Worthy News
one of the deadliest anti-Christian atrocities in recent months, attackers linked to the Islamic State group used machetes and guns to kill at least 61 civilians at a funeral in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) on Monday night, local officials said.
Ethiopia on Tuesday inaugurated the $5 billion Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), Africa’s largest hydroelectric project, hailing it as a unifying national achievement that will double the country’s power generation capacity.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced Monday the start of Operation Midway Blitz, an immigration enforcement campaign targeting criminal noncitizen migrants in Chicago, drawing sharp pushback from Illinois leaders.
The Spirit of God is stirring hearts at Ohio State University, where hundreds of students gathered in a powerful display of worship, repentance, and surrender to Jesus.
The government of Australia’s New South Wales state has confirmed that some prayers are now unlawful under a new ban on LGBTQ+ “conversion practices,” prompting protests from Christian leaders.
Israel’s military on Tuesday ordered the full evacuation of Gaza City, home to nearly half of the Gaza Strip’s population, as it prepared to launch what Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called “major action” against Hamas in the enclave.
French President Emmanuel Macron is seeking his fifth prime minister in less than two years after opposition parties united to oust center-right Prime Minister François Bayrou over his unpopular plans for massive budget tightening.