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.
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