【Text by Observer Net, Wang Kaiwen】U.S. media Axios reported that U.S. President Trump said during an interview with the media on October 4 local time that "we are close" to reaching a peace agreement in Gaza, and he will push for finalizing it in the coming days.
According to the report, Trump recently called Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu. "I said, 'Bibi (referring to Netanyahu), this is your chance to win,' and he accepted," Trump said. "He has no choice but to accept. In my view, you must accept."
On October 4, Trump posted on his self-created social platform "Truth Social" that Israel had agreed to a preliminary withdrawal route for Gaza and shared the relevant plan with the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas). Once Hamas confirms it, the ceasefire will take effect immediately, and the exchange of hostages and prisoners will start.
Last month, the White House released the U.S. proposal to end the Gaza conflict, the "20-point plan". On September 29, Trump announced at the White House that Israel had accepted the "20-point plan" during a meeting with Netanyahu.
On the evening of September 29 local time, U.S. President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu held a press conference in the state dining room of the White House. Visual China
Hamas also issued a statement on the night of October 3, responding to the U.S. "20-point plan", stating its willingness to negotiate through mediators to implement the plan. Hamas agreed to release all Israeli hostages and hand over the remains of the deceased according to Trump's proposal, provided that the necessary conditions for the exchange are met.
Trump spoke out on social media on the 3rd, expressing support for Hamas' response to the "20-point plan" and saying he believed they were ready to achieve lasting peace, urging Israel to immediately stop bombing Gaza.
According to Axios, before Trump publicly called on Israel to stop attacks on the 3rd, he had spoken to Netanyahu. Trump revealed to Axios that his team had warned him before the call that Netanyahu was "reluctant" about a ceasefire, but Trump said that when he talked to Netanyahu, the latter agreed to move forward.
Trump claimed that the U.S. plan was "popular," "every country in the world supports it, Bibi is in favor of it. Hamas also played an important role - they are willing to move forward. Now we need to implement it."
Trump also said that Turkish President Erdogan had "done a big favor" in pushing Hamas to release hostages, "Erdogan helped a lot. He was very firm, but he is my friend, he is great."
A U.S. official revealed that Trump had spoken to Erdogan before Hamas responded on the 3rd, asking him to ensure that Hamas would not refuse.
"President Trump told Erdogan, 'I have done a lot for you, now I need you to do this.' "The official said.
In an interview with Axio, Trump said that the Gaza war had isolated Israel internationally, and one of his goals in ending the war was to restore Israel's international prestige.
"Bibi went too far, Israel lost the support of many people around the world. Now I want to get all the support back," Trump said.
Axios pointed out that Trump's public statements and behind-the-scenes diplomacy have brought Israel and Hamas closer than ever to ending the war that began two years ago.
The Netanyahu office issued a statement on the 3rd that "given Hamas' response, Israel is ready to immediately implement the first stage of the Trump plan and immediately release all hostages." The Israeli Defense Forces said that as of the morning of October 4 local time, the Israeli military had shifted to a "defensive operation" in Gaza and stopped air strikes except those ensuring the safety of the troops.
A White House official told Axios that U.S. Middle East envoy Wittkopf and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner will go to Egypt this weekend to finalize the details of the hostage release "and discuss a lasting peace agreement."
Egypt confirmed on the 4th that negotiations on the hostage agreement and the end of the war will be held in Sharm El-Sheikh on October 6 local time.
According to "France 24", Netanyahu warned on the evening of the 4th that Hamas either disarms through "the Trump plan" or through military means. He also said he hopes to have all the hostages held in Gaza returned "in the next few days."
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