Donald Trump has announced that Israel has agreed to a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza, and is urging Hamas to accept the agreement before conditions worsen.
The US president shared this development before hosting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for discussions at the White House next week.
Although Trump has been pressuring both the Israeli government and Hamas to reach a ceasefire and hostage agreement to end the conflict, he stated that Israel is ready to finalize the conditions for a 60-day ceasefire, during which time efforts will be made to secure an end to the war.
“My representatives had a long and productive meeting with the Israelis today on Gaza. 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,” Mr. Trump wrote on social media, adding that Qatari and Egyptian officials 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.”
It comes as Israel’s minister for strategic affairs, Ron Dermer, was in Washington for talks with senior administration officials to discuss a potential ceasefire in Gaza, as well as Iran and other matters.
Mr Dermer was expected to meet Vice President JD Vance, secretary of state Marco Rubio, and special envoy Steve Witkoff.
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Earlier in the day, Mr Trump told reporters he is hopeful a ceasefire-for-hostages agreement can be achieved between Israel and Hamas next week.
Hamas has said it is willing to release the remaining hostages in Gaza under a deal to end the war, while Israel has said the conflict can only end if Hamas is disarmed and dismantled.
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