Trump claims Gaza war to end in weeks, despite ongoing Israeli assault
4 Min Read
US President Donald Trump claims the Gaza war will end in weeks despite the Israeli regime rejecting ceasefire proposals.
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President Donald Trump speaks during an event signing a proclamation honoring the fourth anniversary of the attack at Abbey Gate in Afghanistan, in the Oval Office of the White House, Monday, Aug. 25, 2025, in Washington. (AP)
US President Donald Trump claimed Monday that the ongoing war on Gaza will reach a “conclusive ending” within the next two to three weeks, despite signs that "Israel" is pressing ahead with a prolonged onslaught.
“I think within the next two to three weeks, you’re going to have pretty good, conclusive, a conclusive ending,” Trump told reporters from the Oval Office.
Trump did not provide evidence or intelligence to support his timeline. His comments come as Israeli forces are intensifying preparations for a ground offensive on Gaza City, even after Hamas agreed last week to a phased ceasefire proposal mediated by Arab states, a proposal that "Israel" has unsurprisingly not accepted.
Pattern of vague predictions
Trump has frequently used similar two-week timelines to forecast the outcomes of major geopolitical developments, including the war in Ukraine, nuclear talks with Iran, and trade negotiations, many of which have failed to materialize.
“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,” Trump said, hedging his forecast.
He added, “But it does have to end, but people can’t forget October 7,” referring to the events that marked the beginning of the current escalation.
Rubio, Witkoff reiterate US support for 'Israel’s' war
When asked whether the US is actively working to end the war, Trump pointed to a “very serious diplomatic push,” before inviting Secretary of State Marco Rubio to elaborate.
Rubio stated that diplomatic efforts “never stopped,” but insisted the war must end with the defeat of Hamas, echoing "Israel’s" condition for a ceasefire, which hinges on Hamas’s complete surrender, something widely regarded as unrealistic by international observers.
US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff also weighed in, claiming that Trump’s recent Truth Social post helped push forward stalled negotiations.
“We wouldn’t be anywhere but for the president’s truth last week,” Witkoff said, referring to a post in which Trump asserted that hostage releases would only come after Hamas’s destruction.
However, two Arab diplomats involved in the talks told The Times of Israel that Hamas had already accepted the latest proposal before Trump made his statement on August 18. They added that the current plan is nearly identical to the one previously promoted by Witkoff and Arab mediators months earlier.
Trump silent on ceasefire position, comments on famine in Gaza
Asked whether he had recently spoken with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump confirmed they remain in contact and referenced past cooperation against Iran’s nuclear program.
On the situation in Gaza, where UN-backed reports have confirmed famine is now occurring, Trump said, “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.”
He added that the humanitarian toll is worsening, stating, “Between the hunger and all the other problems, worse than hunger, death, pure death, people being killed.”
Trump also repeated his administration’s claim that the US had contributed $60 million in humanitarian aid for Gaza. However, the US State Department clarified that the actual figure stands at $30 million, with only half of that amount having been transferred so far to the controversial Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.
Read more: Doctors in Gaza report severe levels of hunger: AP
