Trump Announces Israel’s Agreement To 60-Day Gaza Ceasefire, Urges Hamas To Accept Terms.
United States President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that Israel has agreed to the “necessary conditions” to finalise a 60-day ceasefire with Hamas in Gaza, a significant step towards pausing the nearly two-year conflict. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump expressed hope that Hamas would accept the deal, warning that conditions would “not get better — IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE” if the group rejects the proposal. While specific details of the agreement remain undisclosed, the announcement comes as Trump prepares to host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House next week.
The proposed ceasefire, brokered with the assistance of Qatari and Egyptian mediators, aims to halt hostilities and facilitate the release of hostages held in Gaza. Sources indicate that the deal includes provisions for Hamas to release 10 living hostages and the remains of 18 deceased hostages in exchange for Israel freeing approximately 1,250 Palestinian prisoners, including 100 serving long sentences for serious offences. The agreement also outlines the resumption of humanitarian aid to Gaza, with hundreds of trucks carrying food, medical supplies, and other essentials entering the region daily through designated channels, such as the United Nations and Red Crescent. During the 60-day truce, Israel would cease all offensive military operations and limit aerial activity over Gaza for 10 to 12 hours daily, particularly during hostage and prisoner exchanges.
Negotiations for a permanent ceasefire would begin on the first day of the truce, focusing on the release of remaining hostages, Israeli troop redeployment, and long-term security arrangements for Gaza. The proposal allows for an extension of the ceasefire if a permanent agreement is not reached within the 60-day period. However, a key sticking point persists: Hamas demands firm guarantees that the temporary truce will lead to a permanent end to the war and a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, while Israel insists that any long-term deal must ensure the dismantling of Hamas’s military wing and the exile of its senior commanders.
Trump’s announcement follows a series of high-level discussions in Washington, where Israel’s Minister for Strategic Affairs, Ron Dermer, met with US officials, including Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff. The US president has been vocal about his desire to end the Gaza conflict, which began on 7 October 2023, when Hamas-led militants killed approximately 1,200 people and abducted 251 hostages in southern Israel. Israel’s subsequent military campaign has resulted in over 56,000 Palestinian deaths, predominantly civilians, according to Gaza’s health ministry, and caused widespread displacement and a severe humanitarian crisis.
The ceasefire proposal comes on the heels of a fragile truce between Israel and Iran, brokered by Trump’s administration after a 12-day conflict sparked by Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. Analysts suggest that this regional shift may have created an opening for renewed Gaza talks, with Trump leveraging his influence to pressure both Israel and Hamas. Israeli officials have expressed cautious optimism, with Netanyahu stating that recent operations against Iran have “opened up many opportunities” to resolve the Gaza conflict and secure the release of the remaining 50 hostages, of whom around 20 are believed to be alive.
Hamas has yet to confirm its acceptance of the proposal, with a senior official indicating that the group is reviewing the terms to ensure they meet its demands for a permanent ceasefire and Israeli withdrawal. Previous ceasefire attempts, including a brief truce in January 2025 that saw 33 hostages released, collapsed in March when Israel resumed strikes, citing disagreements over follow-up negotiations. International pressure is mounting on both sides to end the conflict, with the United Nations and humanitarian organisations calling for an immediate halt to hostilities to address Gaza’s dire humanitarian situation.
As Trump prepares for his upcoming meeting with Netanyahu, he has signalled a firm stance, stating that the Israeli prime minister is eager to reach an agreement. The coming days will be critical in determining whether Hamas will accept the proposal and whether this temporary truce can pave the way for a lasting resolution to the devastating conflict.
