US President Donald Trump predicted on Monday that the Israeli occupation's war on the Palestinian Gaza Strip would end within two or three weeks, amid an unprecedented famine caused by the blockade imposed on the Strip.

Trump told journalists during his reception of South Korean President Lee Jae-myung at the White House, "I think that within the next two or three weeks, there will be a good and decisive end (to the war on Gaza), and I find it hard to predict because they have been fighting for thousands of years. If you want to know, this region has always been a hotbed of conflict, but I think we are doing an excellent job" within the framework of diplomatic resolution efforts.

He added, "Now they are talking about Gaza City, and at some point, the matter will be settled (a solution will be found), and I tell you it is better to settle it soon."

He pointed out that "between hunger and all the other problems—there are things worse than hunger, like death, where people are being killed. I am the one who brought back the hostages, and I did it with that guy over there, Steve Witkoff, and with Marco (Rubio). We all, or the entire team, worked together and brought back many hostages, and now we only have 20 or less left."

He mentioned that "Gaza has 20 prisoners... but there are rumors that some of them may be dead, and the situation there is catastrophic, but it is nearing its end."

He stated, "We recently sent $60 million worth of food aid there (to Gaza), and I don't even know if people are aware—we distributed it ourselves."

For his part, the US Special Envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, said he hopes the number of remaining prisoners in the Gaza Strip is only 20.

Witkoff had announced last July the withdrawal of the US delegation from the ceasefire negotiations in Gaza, which were taking place in Qatar.