US President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that the United States is close to finalizing a deal for Gaza, following productive discussions with regional leaders.

 

Trump indicated that a Gaza ceasefire proposal could be unveiled soon, after presenting a 21-point plan to Arab leaders during meetings at the United Nations earlier this week.

 

“We want to get Gaza over,” Trump told reporters while welcoming Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to the White House. “I had a great meeting with the leaders of that area, generally speaking, the Middle East. I think we're close to getting some kind of a deal done.”

 

The US delegation held discussions with representatives from Arab and Muslim countries on the sidelines of the UN on Tuesday, with attendees describing the talks as productive. According to reports cited in Hebrew media, any potential plan will not include West Bank annexation.

 

Thursday’s White House meeting follows both Trump and Erdogan’s addresses at the UN General Assembly earlier this week. In his speech, Erdogan strongly criticized 'Israel’s' actions, calling the conflict a genocide and urging the international community to act. “Everyone who is keeping silent is an accomplice to this barbarity,” he said.