US President Donald Trump expressed optimism about a new ceasefire in Gaza.

Trump said that an agreement between Israel and Hamas could be reached as early as next week, AFP reported.

"We think we will achieve a ceasefire as early as next week," he said.

The US brokered a truce in the devastating conflict in the final days of former President Joe Biden's administration, with the support of Trump's new team.

Israel declared an end to the truce in March, launching new devastating attacks against Hamas, which attacked Israel on October 7, 2023.

Israel also halted food and other supplies to Gaza for more than two months, leading to warnings of famine.

Since then, Israel has allowed food supplies to resume through the controversial Gaza Humanitarian Relief Foundation, which involves American security companies and Israeli troops on the periphery.

Witnesses and officials in Gaza have reported numerous cases of Palestinians being killed while waiting for aid.

On June 26, the US announced that it would begin funding the initiative with an approved $30 million.

"As you know, we are delivering a lot of money and a lot of food to that area. We are committed because people are dying. Look at those crowds of people who have no food, they have nothing," Trump said.

The Israeli newspaper Haaretz quoted anonymous soldiers who claimed that commanders had ordered soldiers to fire on crowds near aid distribution centers to disperse them, even when they posed no threat.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denied this information. | BGNES