Mughrabi WASHINGTON/UNITED NATIONS/CAIRO (Reuters) -Israel has agreed to a U.S. ceasefire proposal for Gaza, the White House said on Thursday, and Hamas said it was reviewing it as a U.S.-backed system for distributing food aid in the shattered enclave expanded.

Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office Friday, President Donald Trump said that Israel and Hamas are "very close" to reaching a temporary ceasefire, and that a nuclear deal with Iran could happen "in the not too distant future.

The White House said Thursday that Israel had accepted US President Donald Trump's proposal for a Gaza ceasefire, while discussions were "continuing" with Hamas.

Steve Witkoff stated in Washington on Wednesday that he has "some very good feelings about getting to a long-term resolution — a temporary ceasefire and a long-term resolution, a peaceful resolution of that conflict," adding that a new U.S. proposal would soon be presented to both parties.