Trump Hopeful for Gaza Ceasefire, Possibly Next Week

US President Donald Trump on Friday expressed optimism about the possibility of a new ceasefire in Gaza, as international criticism mounted over the rising civilian toll at Israeli-backed food distribution centres.

Asked how close the ceasefire talks were between Israel and Hamas, Trump told reporters, "We think within the next week, we're going to get a ceasefire."

The United States previously brokered a ceasefire in the final days of former president Joe Biden’s administration, with support from Trump’s incoming team. That truce was broken in March, when Israel resumed heavy attacks on Hamas, following the October 7 assault on Israel by the group.

Israel also imposed a blockade, halting food and supply deliveries to Gaza for over two months, triggering fears of famine. Supplies have since resumed under the US- and Israeli-supported Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which operates with US contractors and Israeli military coordination at distribution sites.

UN officials on Friday criticised the system, alleging that it has led to mass deaths of Palestinians seeking aid. Philippe Lazzarini, head of UNRWA, described the GHF-led operation as a “killing field,” stating that civilians were “shot at while trying to access food.” He called for the return of humanitarian deliveries by the UN, including via UNRWA.

According to Gaza’s health ministry, over 500 people have been killed near aid centres since late May. Civil defense sources also reported repeated fatal incidents during food distribution attempts.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres said, “The search for food must never be a death sentence.”

Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) denounced the GHF system as “slaughter masquerading as humanitarian aid.”

Israel rejected the allegations, stating GHF had distributed 46 million meals and accusing the UN of aligning with Hamas in opposing the system. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed a Haaretz report claiming Israeli commanders authorised fire on civilians at aid sites, calling the report a “malicious falsehood.”

Meanwhile, Gaza’s civil defense agency said at least 80 Palestinians were killed across the territory on Friday, including 10 people waiting for aid. Among the dead were six near a GHF site in southern Gaza, and three others struck while queuing for supplies in central Gaza.

An Israeli airstrike also reportedly hit a school sheltering displaced people in northern Gaza, killing eight.

Elsewhere, Hamas and Islamic Jihad militants launched attacks on Israeli forces near Khan Yunis, claiming coordinated strikes on military targets.

Hamas's October 7 attack killed 1,219 people in Israel, mostly civilians. In response, Israel’s military campaign has killed at least 56,331 people in Gaza, according to its health ministry. The UN considers these figures credible.