US President Donald Trump has announced that Israel has agreed to the ‘necessary conditions’ for a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza, marking the latest attempt to halt a conflict that has claimed tens of thousands of lives since October 2023.
However, Hamas has yet to respond, and previous truce efforts have collapsed amid deep divisions between the two sides.
According to Reuters, Trump stated on Truth Social that the proposed pause in fighting would allow the US to ‘work with all parties to end the War.’ He credited Qatar and Egypt, who have been key mediators in past negotiations, with delivering the final proposal to Hamas.
‘I hope that Hamas takes this deal, because it will not get better, it will only get worse,’ Trump wrote.
Despite the US president’s optimism, Israel has not publicly confirmed its acceptance of the deal, and Hamas officials have remained silent. The militant group has previously demanded a permanent ceasefire and full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, conditions Israel has repeatedly rejected.
The announcement comes ahead of a scheduled meeting between Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu next week. Trump told reporters he would be ‘very firm’ with Netanyahu, although he expressed confidence that the Israeli leader wants to end hostilities.
‘He wants to. I can tell you he wants to. I think we’ll have a deal next week,’ Trump said.
Meanwhile, Israeli officials have conveyed conflicting messages. Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer met with US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Vice President JD Vance in Washington this week. Separately, Israel’s UN ambassador, Danny Danon, emphasised that Israel was ‘absolutely‘ ready for a ceasefire but accused Hamas of ‘playing hardball’, as reported by the BBC.
‘The war will end when the hostages are back home,’ Danon said.
The proposed 60-day pause follows months of failed truce attempts. A previous ceasefire in January collapsed after Israel accused Hamas of rearming and preparing for new attacks. That deal had envisioned a three-stage process, including hostage exchanges and a full Israeli withdrawal, but negotiations never progressed beyond the first phase.
Israel maintains that the conflict cannot conclude until Hamas dismantles, while Hamas insists any agreement must include a permanent end to fighting. The militant group still holds approximately 50 Israeli hostages, at least 20 of whom are believed to be alive.
According to the Hamas-run health ministry, more than 56 000 Palestinians have been killed, and the territory faces severe food shortages and mass displacement.
Recent Israeli evacuation orders in northern Gaza suggest military operations could intensify. On Monday, an airstrike on a Gaza City café killed at least 20 people, according to local medics. Meanwhile, aid organisations accuse Israeli forces of firing on civilians seeking food, a claim Israel denies.
The latest US-brokered ceasefire proposal offers a glimmer of hope, but the path to lasting peace remains fraught with obstacles. With Israel and Hamas still at odds over fundamental issues, hostages, disarmament, and Gaza’s future, the international community watches closely to see if diplomacy can prevail where past efforts have failed.
Also read:
Charlize Theron calls out Bezos wedding, highlights global inequality
Picture: Unsplash
