White House says both sides will be ‘unhappy’ with Gaza deal, but that it’s ‘very close’

WASHINGTON — US President Donald Trump believes his plan for ending the Gaza war is the best plan that Israel and Hamas will be able to secure, even though both sides “will come out somewhat unhappy,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt tells reporters outside the White House.

Leavitt says it will be critical for both sides to agree to the plan and that today’s meetings between Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House will be decisive.

Asked by Fox News how close Netanyahu and Hamas are to “saying yes,” Leavitt says: “Very close. It is going to be a very busy day here at the White House. And nobody knows better than President Trump [that] to reach a good deal, a reasonable deal for both sides, both sides have to give up a little bit and might leave the table a little bit unhappy. But that’s ultimately how we’re going to end this conflict. It must end at the negotiating table. The president has made it very clear he wants to see the killing end, he wants all of the hostages released.”

“The administration has been in both direct and indirect talks with Hamas throughout this entire process, as well, and of course the president is in constant contact with our friend and ally Prime Minister Netanyahu,” she adds.