United States ruler, Donald Trump, has said “something special” is going to get done in the Middle East. Trump made the comments on social media, as the death toll from the war between Israel and Palestine topped 66,000.

“We have a real chance for GREATNESS IN THE MIDDLE EAST,” Mr Trump wrote on social media. “ALL ARE ON BOARD FOR SOMETHING SPECIAL, FIRST TIME EVER. WE WILL GET IT DONE!!! President DJT.”

According to a report by The Independent, the majority of the 66,000 deaths were women and children. This statistic has led to intensifying international pressure on Israel to end its war in Gaza, especially amid its ground offensive in the north of the besieged territory.

The U.S. president and the Israeli prime minister are set to meet at the White House on Monday to discuss a U.S.-drafted 21-point proposal aimed at halting the war in Gaza and laying out its post-war governance.

While hopes for a ceasefire continue, Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, tempered some of those hopes. He said that a ceasefire plan had “not been finalised yet.” “But we’re working with President Trump’s team, actually, as we speak, and I hope we can make it a go,” he added in an interview with Fox News.

Trump earlier said the 21-point proposal for an immediate ceasefire between Hamas and Israel would include the release of all Israeli hostages within 48 hours, the disarmament of Hamas, the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, and a steady withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza.

Hamas said on Sunday that it had not received any new proposal for a ceasefire. It, however, reiterated “readiness to examine any proposals it receives from its mediator brothers in a positive and responsible manner, while upholding the national rights of our people”.

“The dynamics appear more serious this time,” said a senior Israeli official, “but it still needs to cross the final line.”

Will there finally be a ceasefire? Or is this just more smoke in mirrors?