Israeli Official Plays Down Chance of Imminent End to Gaza War

A senior Israeli official played down the chances of an imminent end to the war in Gaza, even as US President Donald Trump said negotiators were “very close” to a ceasefire.

The Israeli official, granted anonymity to speak about the progress of the negotiations, indicated a truce with Hamas could be agreed to in a week or two but may not evolve into a de facto end to a war that’s lasted more than 21 months and destabilized the wider Middle East.