President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have expressed optimism about nearing a ceasefire agreement with Hamas.

“I will tell you we’re getting very close to a deal,” Trump stated in response to a query from Fox News Senior White House correspondent Peter Doocy on Wednesday. “I don’t know if it’s secret or not secret, but it doesn’t matter to me – secrets are fine if they lead us to our goal, which is a ceasefire.

“We want to have peace. We want to get the hostages back. And I think we’re close to doing it,” he added. 

The specific issues stalling the negotiations remain uncertain, but conflicts over Israel’s ongoing military presence in the Gaza Strip and plans for the Palestinians post-agreement have historically troubled the discussions.

Bartiromo also questioned Netanyahu over frustrations that have mounted between the international community, Israel and the U.S. over the distribution of aid through the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) instead of the United Nations. 

“We have our own distribution system that has been established to prevent Hamas from stealing the food that is supposed to go to the population,” Netanyahu said. “They steal it, they take it for themselves, and the remainder they hike the prices and basically extort the Palestinian population in order to use it to continue recruiting people to their war machine.”

Palestinians carry bags and boxes containing food and humanitarian aid packages delivered by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation in Rafah, southern Gaza Strip, June 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)

Netanyahu said he does not want to give up the distribution system that has worked to ensure Hamas is not stealing aid and using it as a black market commodity to extort civilians and a terrorist recruitment tool.

While the U.N. has been continuing to distribute aid in Gaza, its convoys have repeatedly been attacked and ransacked by suspected Hamas terrorists. 

The Israeli prime minister said he expects the U.N. and GHF will be distributing aid under the 60-day plan.