President Donald Trump announced that Israel has agreed to a 60-day ceasefire as he looks to bring peace to Gaza after almost 60,000 deaths.
Trump revealed on his Truth Social platform that his team had a “long and productive meeting” with Israelis in Gaza as he urged Hamas to accept the deal.
“Israel has agreed to the necessary conditions to finalize the 60 Day CEASEFIRE, during which time we will work with all parties to end the War,” wrote Trump.
The US president said that the Qataris and Egyptians “worked very hard to help bring peace” and broker the deal.
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 concluded.
“Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
Israel’s prime minister and officials did not immediately confirm that they agreed to the conditions.
His announcement came ahead of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s planned visit to the White House for talks on Monday.
Trump’s announcement followed several hours of meetings Tuesday at the White House between his envoy Steve Witkoff and Israeli Minister for Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer, a top adviser to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Hours earlier, Trump reiterated that he is looking for an Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal to come through next week.
The US president told reporters that he will be “very firm” with Netanyahu.
“He wants to. I can tell you he wants to. I think we’ll have a deal next week,” Trump said.
Netanyahu has insisted he will continue fighting until Hamas is crushed, but he faces mounting pressure to end the conflict with a deal that would include Hamas releasing hostages captured on October 7, 2023.
About 50 hostages remain, with less than half believed to be alive.
Hamas has said it will only free the Israeli hostages if Israel completely withdraws its military from Gaza.
Two administration officials said Hamas still had to agree to the deal.
Hamas has long pushed for a permanent ceasefire, so it is unclear if it would agree to a temporary 60-day truce.
Israel unleashed one of its largest bombardments in weeks on Monday killing at least 58 people, including a cafe filled with 20 people.
Women, children and one journalist were killed while in a beachfront cafe in Gaza City, according to medics on the ground.
More than 56,000 Palestinians and more than 1,700 Israelis have been killed over the course of the war that began when Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.
The draft agreement envisions Israel and Hamas using the 60-day ceasefire to negotiate both a permanent end to the war and a road map for governing post-war Gaza.
For Israel, any long-term ceasefire must include the removal of Hamas from power, the dismantling of its military wing and the exile of its senior commanders.
The proposed deal comes amid intensified diplomatic efforts by the Trump administration to end the conflict.
Trump’s shift in focus towards Gaza follows the tenuous ceasefire brokered between Israel and Iran in June after the U.S. struck Iranian nuclear targets.
If negotiations on the ceasefire and hostage deal don’t advance soon, the military will escalate its operations, Israeli officials warned.
