President Donald Trump said Sunday that a Gaza deal to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas could be announced "pretty soon," after he issued what he called his "last warning" to the militant group.
Trump, speaking to reporters after landing at Joint Base Andrews following a brief trip to New York, said he had been discussing the issue on the plane and declined to provide additional specifics. "We're working on a solution that may be very good," he said, adding, "You'll be hearing about it pretty soon. We're trying to get it ended, get the hostages back."
Earlier on Sunday, Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform that "The Israelis have accepted my Terms. It is time for Hamas to accept as well," and warned of unspecified consequences for failing to do so. Hamas responded later in the day, saying it had received some ideas from the United States through mediators and was discussing ways to develop those ideas, but the group provided no public details of a possible agreement.
Hamas reiterated its position that it is prepared to negotiate for the release of all hostages only in exchange for a "clear announcement of an end to the war" and the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip. Israeli and Palestinian officials have not confirmed any deal.
Israeli media outlet N12 reported Saturday that Trump had proposed a new ceasefire plan under which Hamas would free all remaining 48 hostages on the first day of a truce in return for the release of thousands of Palestinian prisoners held in Israel and negotiations aimed at ending the war during the ceasefire. The report did not cite a named U.S. administration spokesman, and U.S. officials present during the president's comments on Sunday declined to provide further detail.
Trump told reporters he believed all the hostages would be returned and acknowledged that some may have died, saying his goal would include the return of bodies. He did not provide a timeline or describe the mechanisms by which any exchange or truce would be enforced.
The remarks come amid intense fighting and Israeli strikes in Gaza that have produced civilian casualties and widespread destruction. Palestinian medics and witnesses reported fresh deaths in Gaza on Sunday. Hamas and Palestinian health authorities have documented heavy losses, and international organizations have repeatedly expressed concern about the humanitarian situation, though those accounts vary and are subject to independent verification.
U.S. officials have periodically engaged in shuttle diplomacy with regional partners and mediators since the outbreak of fighting, seeking pathways to both halt the immediate hostilities and secure the release of hostages taken in cross-border attacks. Negotiations have been sensitive and episodic, shaped by rapidly shifting conditions on the ground and by the demands of the parties involved.
Trump's public warnings and the suggestion of an imminent proposal underscore the White House's active involvement in efforts to end the immediate cycle of violence and recover hostages. Any agreement would require the cooperation of multiple actors, including Israeli authorities and intermediaries capable of communicating with Hamas, and could face immediate challenges in implementation amid continuing military operations.
As of Sunday, neither the Israeli government nor Hamas had announced a finalized agreement. The situation remained fluid, with U.S. and regional officials continuing to engage in discussions that they characterized as urgent and ongoing.