President Donald Trump has announced that Israel is prepared to enter a 60-day ceasefire agreement concerning the ongoing conflict in Gaza, urging Hamas to accept the offer before conditions deteriorate further. He made this statement ahead of a scheduled meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House.
The U.S. president has been advocating for both the Israeli government and Hamas to reach a ceasefire and hostage resolution to halt the violence in Gaza, which has resulted in significant casualties on both sides, with US officials reporting over 56,000 deaths in the Palestinian territory. Trump expressed hope that Hamas would accept the proposed deal, warning, “it will not get better — IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE.”
In a message, Trump stated his representatives had a fruitful discussion with Israeli authorities and laid out the necessary conditions for the ceasefire, to be finalised with the assistance of Qatar and Egypt. However, scepticism remains on whether Hamas will agree to these terms, as they seek the release of hostages in exchange for a full withdrawal of Israeli troops, a proposal Israel has firmly rejected.
Amid ongoing violence, including recent airstrikes in Khan Younis that resulted in numerous casualties, over 150 humanitarian organisations have called for the disbanding of an Israeli and U.S.-backed system to distribute aid in Gaza, citing inefficiencies and violence against those in need. This adds further strain to the humanitarian crisis in the region.
Simultaneously, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz issued warnings of a strong response to perceived threats, particularly mentioning missile attacks from Yemen, believed to involve support from Iran.
As Trump prepares for his meeting with Netanyahu, where various topics, including trade and regional security concerning Iran, are expected to be discussed, he remains optimistic about the potential for a ceasefire deal in the upcoming week. Netanyahu has acknowledged a willingness to negotiate, though many obstacles remain, particularly regarding hostages and Israel’s military presence in Gaza.
Overall, the situation remains fragile, with calls for peace efforts continuing amidst the backdrop of immense human suffering and political complexities in the region.