Tag: Press Secretary

U.S. President Donald Trump wants to move “very quickly” to secure a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas, according to his press secretary, Karoline Leavitt. Speaking at a White House briefing on Monday, Leavitt described the ongoing indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas — centered on Trump’s 20-point peace framework — as a significant diplomatic breakthrough. “You’ve seen all sides of this conflict agree that this war needs to end, and agree to the 20-point framework that President Trump proposed,” she said. “It’s an incredible achievement, and the administration is working very hard to move the ball forward as quickly as we can.” Leavitt emphasized that both Israel and Hamas endorsing the U.S.-backed proposal was “truly remarkable,” and underscored Trump’s personal commitment to achieving a swift resolution. When asked about the Sunday deadline Trump had set for Hamas to accept the proposal — which the group has already agreed to — Leavitt reiterated that the administration aims to act fast. “We want to move very quickly on this. The president wants to see the hostages released as soon as possible,” she said. Pressed on what the U.S. response would be if talks were to collapse, Leavitt declined to set a “red line,” but stressed that the immediate priority was building momentum toward peace. “The focus right now is on getting some momentum, getting the hostages out, and moving forward to the next part — ensuring we can create a lasting and durable peace in Gaza and make sure it no longer threatens the security of Israel or the United States,” she added. Leavitt made the remarks during her regular briefing, which also touched on the sixth day of the ongoing U.S. federal government shutdown. The White House confirmed that Trump remains closely engaged with the Gaza peace process and has instructed U.S. mediators in Egypt to expedite discussions aimed at finalizing a ceasefire agreement this week.