United States President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that Israel has agreed to the “necessary conditions” to finalise a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza. The aim, he said, is to use this pause to push for an end to a conflict that has now lasted more than 20 months.
Trump wrote on Truth Social, “My Representatives had a long and productive meeting with the Israelis today on Gaza. Israel has agreed to the necessary conditions to finalize the 60 Day CEASEFIRE, during which time we will work with all parties to end the War. The Qataris and Egyptians, who have worked very hard to help bring Peace, will deliver this final proposal. I hope, for the good of the Middle East, that Hamas takes this Deal, because it will not get better — IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
Qatar and Egypt to hand over final terms
Qatar and Egypt have spent months behind closed doors pushing talks forward. According to CNN, Qatari officials delivered the fresh proposal to Hamas and Israel on Tuesday. The plan reportedly reflects changes meant to address Hamas’s earlier objections.
A source told CNN the plan includes swapping Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners. President Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, helped steer the discussions that produced this new version.
Netanyahu set for White House talks
The push for a deal comes days before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu travels to Washington to meet Trump and top US security officials on 7 July. Trump said he would be “very firm” about ending the fighting.
“But he (Netanyahu) wants it too... He wants to end it too,” Trump added during remarks to reporters. He sounded hopeful that an agreement could follow their talks. “I think we’ll have a deal next week,” Trump said.
Israeli Minister for Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer was also in Washington this week to meet US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Vice President JD Vance, and Witkoff.
Fighting rages despite ceasefire push
While leaders negotiate, the violence on the ground has shown no sign of stopping. On Monday, Israeli airstrikes struck at least 50 targets in Gaza, with many hitting eastern Gaza City, according to Al Jazeera.
Medical sources told Al Jazeera that at least 68 Palestinians died on Sunday alone. Gaza’s Health Ministry says the total toll since October has reached over 56,500 dead and more than 133,000 injured. The war began after Hamas attacked Israel on 7 October 2023, killing about 1,200 people and taking over 200 hostages.
Israel’s military says it has not met all its war goals yet but admits Hamas fighters have gone underground, making them harder to find.
Hamas position: Cautious, but open
Hamas has not agreed to the plan yet. Speaking to AFP, senior Hamas official Taher al-Nunu said the group remains “ready to agree to any proposal if it will lead to an end to the war and a permanent ceasefire and a complete withdrawal of occupation forces.” But, he added, “So far, there has been no breakthrough.”
A BBC report noted Hamas wants a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and a long-term truce. Israel insists the conflict will not end until Hamas is dismantled.
This isn’t the first time a ceasefire plan has been floated. A similar deal broke down in March after new Israeli strikes, which officials described as pre-emptive action to prevent fresh attacks by Hamas. The earlier three-stage plan never progressed beyond the first stage.
Trump’s new push has revived hope among backers that both sides could exchange hostages and prisoners during the 60-day pause. But some US officials fear Hamas may reject the plan again or set fresh conditions.
Meanwhile, reports from Gaza tell of civilians caught in fresh evacuations and strikes. On Monday, at least 20 people died when a seafront café in Gaza City was hit, medics and eyewitnesses told local reporters.
Humanitarian groups continue to sound the alarm. More than 170 charities have urged the shutdown of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, backed by Israel and the US, claiming Israeli troops “routinely” fire on Palestinians gathering for aid. Israel denies this, arguing Hamas often blocks proper aid distribution.
(With inputs from AFP, Reuters)
Trump wrote on Truth Social, “My Representatives had a long and productive meeting with the Israelis today on Gaza. Israel has agreed to the necessary conditions to finalize the 60 Day CEASEFIRE, during which time we will work with all parties to end the War. The Qataris and Egyptians, who have worked very hard to help bring Peace, will deliver this final proposal. I hope, for the good of the Middle East, that Hamas takes this Deal, because it will not get better — IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
Qatar and Egypt to hand over final terms
Qatar and Egypt have spent months behind closed doors pushing talks forward. According to CNN, Qatari officials delivered the fresh proposal to Hamas and Israel on Tuesday. The plan reportedly reflects changes meant to address Hamas’s earlier objections.
A source told CNN the plan includes swapping Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners. President Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, helped steer the discussions that produced this new version.
Netanyahu set for White House talks
The push for a deal comes days before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu travels to Washington to meet Trump and top US security officials on 7 July. Trump said he would be “very firm” about ending the fighting.
“But he (Netanyahu) wants it too... He wants to end it too,” Trump added during remarks to reporters. He sounded hopeful that an agreement could follow their talks. “I think we’ll have a deal next week,” Trump said.
Israeli Minister for Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer was also in Washington this week to meet US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Vice President JD Vance, and Witkoff.
Fighting rages despite ceasefire push
While leaders negotiate, the violence on the ground has shown no sign of stopping. On Monday, Israeli airstrikes struck at least 50 targets in Gaza, with many hitting eastern Gaza City, according to Al Jazeera.
Medical sources told Al Jazeera that at least 68 Palestinians died on Sunday alone. Gaza’s Health Ministry says the total toll since October has reached over 56,500 dead and more than 133,000 injured. The war began after Hamas attacked Israel on 7 October 2023, killing about 1,200 people and taking over 200 hostages.
Israel’s military says it has not met all its war goals yet but admits Hamas fighters have gone underground, making them harder to find.
Hamas position: Cautious, but open
Hamas has not agreed to the plan yet. Speaking to AFP, senior Hamas official Taher al-Nunu said the group remains “ready to agree to any proposal if it will lead to an end to the war and a permanent ceasefire and a complete withdrawal of occupation forces.” But, he added, “So far, there has been no breakthrough.”
A BBC report noted Hamas wants a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and a long-term truce. Israel insists the conflict will not end until Hamas is dismantled.
This isn’t the first time a ceasefire plan has been floated. A similar deal broke down in March after new Israeli strikes, which officials described as pre-emptive action to prevent fresh attacks by Hamas. The earlier three-stage plan never progressed beyond the first stage.
Trump’s new push has revived hope among backers that both sides could exchange hostages and prisoners during the 60-day pause. But some US officials fear Hamas may reject the plan again or set fresh conditions.
Meanwhile, reports from Gaza tell of civilians caught in fresh evacuations and strikes. On Monday, at least 20 people died when a seafront café in Gaza City was hit, medics and eyewitnesses told local reporters.
Humanitarian groups continue to sound the alarm. More than 170 charities have urged the shutdown of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, backed by Israel and the US, claiming Israeli troops “routinely” fire on Palestinians gathering for aid. Israel denies this, arguing Hamas often blocks proper aid distribution.
(With inputs from AFP, Reuters)
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