US President Donald Trump said Friday that negotiations toward a hostage deal are advancing, suggesting it could end the war in Gaza and bring peace.
Speaking to reporters on the White House lawn before leaving for the 45th Ryder Cup in New York, Trump declared, "I think we have, maybe we have a deal in Gaza, it's very close to a deal. I think it's a deal that will bring the hostages home, that will end the war, it's going to be peace."
He repeated the message after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the UN General Assembly. Netanyahu's speech in New York featured a scannable QR code on his lapel that led viewers to a video of the atrocities committed by Hamas terrorists on October 7. The prime minister directly addressed Hamas, saying, "Lay down your weapons. Let my people go. Release the hostages, now!"
Meanwhile, several families of hostages and survivors of the October 7 massacre protested outside the UN building, urging an immediate comprehensive agreement to bring their loved ones home. Ronen Neutra, whose son Omer Neutra was murdered on October 7, said, "The families are furious that the names of the fallen were not mentioned in Netanyahu's speech."
