It’s published •update
US President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that Israel agreed to the terms of the 60-day ceasefire in Gaza and warned Hamas to accept the deal before the conditions worsen.
Trump announced the development as he prepares to host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for a meeting at the White House on Monday.
The US president has increased pressure on the Israeli government and Hamas, mediating a ceasefire and hostage agreement, leading to an end to the war in Gaza.
“My representative was holding a long and productive meeting with the Israelis in Gaza today. Israel agreed to the conditions necessary to complete the 60-day ceasefire. During that time, we will work with all political parties to end the war.”
“I hope Hamas will make this deal for the benefit of the Middle East, because it won’t get better.
Trump’s promise that it is his best final offer may find Hamas and a skeptical audience. Even before the longest ceasefire of the war was met in March, Trump repeatedly issued dramatic alien pine, pressured Hamas to agree to a longer pause in the battle, which is seen in the release of more hostages and the release of more aid for Gaza civilians.
Trump sees it as a potential turning point in the conflict that killed more than 56,000 Palestinians in the Israeli attack, according to health officials in Gaza. The war began after Hamas militants staged an attack on Southern Israel, leaving 1,200 deaths on October 7, 2023.
Hamas can still deal a fatal blow to Israeli forces, but Washington believes the group has been significantly reduced as its centralized command and control capabilities worsened over the course of the Israeli attack for nearly 21 months.
Furthermore, Hamas’ main supporter, Iran, was severely abused last month after a 12-day strike in which Israel and the United States targeted Tehran’s nuclear program.
Israeli Strategic Issues Minister Ron Dahmer was in Washington on Tuesday and discussed the Gaza ceasefire, Iran and other issues for conversations with senior administrators. Trump on Tuesday reiterated his hopes of building a ceasefire deal for Hamas next week.
Trump said the Israeli Prime Minister is ready to reach an agreement, and he asked a reporter if more pressure would be needed to push Netanyahu.
“He wants to,” Trump said, “I think we’ll make a deal next week.”
Consultations between Israel and Hamas have repeatedly collapsed at a major anchor point, the lasting end of the war as part of a ceasefire agreement. Netanyahu routinely states that ceasefire contracts, no matter how long they are, will not end the war.
Israeli leaders emphasized that the war with Gaza would only end with Israel’s goals: the destruction of Hamas, the expulsion of its leadership, the complete dissolution, that is, the complete dissolution that the group rejects.
Approximately 50 hostages remain on the strip under Hamas prisoners, with less than half of them being believed to be alive. Hamas says he is willing to free all hostages in exchange for the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces and the end of the war in Gaza.
Additional sources •AP
