US President Donald Trump announced that Israel has agreed to the necessary conditions for a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza, a significant development in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. According to Trump, the Qataris and Egyptians will deliver the final proposal to Hamas, and he urged the militant group to accept the deal, warning that it will not get better and will only get worse.
The proposal, which was finalized after months of behind-the-scenes efforts led by Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff, includes a temporary pause in hostilities, hostage-prisoner swaps, and increased humanitarian aid. However, major sticking points remain, particularly Hamas’ demand for a permanent ceasefire and Israeli withdrawal, which Israel rejects.
Trump’s announcement comes ahead of his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu next week. Trump predicted that Netanyahu wants to end the war and expects a deal to be reached soon. “He wants to. I can tell you he wants to. I think we’ll have a deal next week,” Trump said.
Despite the optimism, agreeing to a ceasefire remains a significant challenge. Hamas has long pushed for a permanent ceasefire, and it’s unclear if they would agree to a temporary 60-day truce. Additionally, Hamas maintains its core demand that the war needs to end and that it would have to stay in power, which Israel will not allow.
The conflict in Gaza has resulted in significant humanitarian suffering, with over 56,000 Palestinians killed since the war began in October 2023. The proposal faces criticism from aid groups over civilian casualties and the controversial Gaza Humanitarian Foundation overseeing relief efforts.
Israel’s UN envoy, Danny Danon, confirmed readiness for a truce but said military pressure would continue if Hamas rejects the deal. Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer also met US officials in Washington to advance the plan.
