White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks with reporters in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, April 8, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Just hours before President Trump meets with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, White House says the administration is “very close” to reaching a breakthrough on a Gaza ceasefire deal.
By World Israel News Staff
The United States is on the verge of securing a deal which would include a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of all of the remaining 48 Israeli hostages, the White House announced on Monday.
Speaking with reporters in front of the White House just hours before President Donald Trump is scheduled to host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that the administration is “very close” to securing an agreement.
‘We hope that both sides will agree to the deal,” Leavitt said. “The president has been working tirelessly on this effort to bring this war in Gaza…to an end. He wants to see all of the hostages released.”
“Witkoff sent a very detailed 21-point plan to both sides and the president expects both sides to agree.”
“The president knows and believes that this is as good of a plan as these sides are going to see. And that is why it is 21 points. It is very detailed, it is comprehensive. The president has been working tirelessly on this.”
Leavitt added that Trump “speaks to Prime Minister Netanyahu all of the time” on the issue, saying the two are in “constant” correspondence. “He has also taken a lot of time to speak with our Arab partners and allies in the Middle East.”
The Trump administration has had “direct and indirect conversations with Hamas.”
“The president knows that when you get a good deal, both sides are going to leave a little bit unhappy. but we need this conflict to end.”
Leavitt refused to answer whether the White House expects Netanyahu to sign on to the Witkoff proposal during his visit to Washington, saying only that Trump “believes strongly in this plan.”
“He wants this to be the plan and he wants this war to come to an end.”
A day earlier, Trump teased a major breakthrough in talks, writing on his Truth Social account that “something special” was about to happen in the Middle East.
“We have a real chance for GREATNESS IN THE MIDDLE EAST. ALL ARE ON BOARD FOR SOMETHING SPECIAL, FIRST TIME EVER. WE WILL GET IT DONE!!!”
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