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President Donald Trump on Monday credited President Recep Tayyip Erdogan with helping advance Gaza peace negotiations, calling him "fantastic" and saying he has been "pushing very hard for this deal" as indirect talks between Hamas and Israel commenced in Egypt.
"President Erdogan is fantastic, he has been pushing very hard for this deal," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. "He is a very powerful guy, Hamas has a lot of respect for him."
The president expressed confidence that a Gaza peace agreement was within reach, saying he was "pretty sure" a deal would emerge from the current round of negotiations under his administration's 20-point plan.
"I think we're going to have a deal. It's a hard thing for me to say that when for years and years they've been trying to have a deal," Trump said. "We're going to have a Gaza deal, I'm pretty sure, yeah."
The president indicated he maintained certain preconditions for any agreement, though he declined to specify whether these included Hamas disarmament when pressed by reporters.
"I have red lines, if certain things aren't met we're not going to do it," Trump said. "But I think we're doing very well and I think Hamas has been agreeing to things that are very important."
Hamas and Israeli delegations began indirect talks in Egypt on Monday, marking a significant diplomatic development in efforts to end the conflict that has ravaged Gaza. The negotiations are proceeding under Trump's 20-point framework, though details of the plan have not been publicly disclosed.
The president also pushed back against reports suggesting he had criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's approach to the talks, asserting that Netanyahu had been "very positive about the deal." Trump's clarification came amid speculation about tensions between the two leaders over the negotiation process.
The indirect nature of the talks reflects the longstanding refusal of both parties to engage in direct negotiations. Such arrangements typically involve mediators shuttling between the different parties to facilitate communication and potential agreements.
Multiple previous ceasefire efforts have broken down over disagreements on prisoner exchanges, withdrawal timelines, and reconstruction terms. The most recent attempts in late 2024 stalled over disputes regarding the release of hostages and Palestinian prisoners.
Egypt and Qatar have served as primary intermediaries in past negotiations, with both countries hosting delegations and facilitating communication between Israeli and Hamas representatives. The United States has also played a supporting role in diplomatic efforts.
Regional powers including Türkiye have urged continued international involvement in peace efforts, emphasizing the need for humanitarian access and reconstruction support for Gaza's civilian population.
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