A potential turning point in the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict has emerged with President Donald Trump’s announcement that Israel has agreed to a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza. Trump revealed that his representatives had a productive meeting with Israeli officials, and the Qataris and Egyptians will deliver the 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,” Trump urged, emphasizing the importance of Hamas accepting the agreement.
The ceasefire agreement is seen as a significant development in the conflict, which has resulted in over 56,000 deaths in the Palestinian territory. According to Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is willing to come to an agreement, saying, “He wants to… I think we’ll have a deal next week.” Meanwhile, Hamas is reviewing new ceasefire proposals from mediators, with the goal of complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and an end to the war. Hamas official Taher al-Nunu stated that the militant group is “ready and serious regarding reaching an agreement”.
However, significant differences remain between the two sides. Hamas is willing to release all hostages in exchange for a full withdrawal of Israeli troops and an end to the war, while Israel demands Hamas’ surrender, disarmament, and exile. About 50 hostages remain captive in Gaza, with less than half believed to be alive. Netanyahu has reaffirmed his stance against Hamas, calling for the group’s elimination. The Israeli Prime Minister is set to visit Washington, D.C. next week to discuss a trade deal, which is expected to touch on Iran after Trump brokered a ceasefire between Israel and Iran last week.
