Israel Agrees to Gaza Ceasefire Terms, Trump Says; Focus Shifts to Hamas Acceptance
Israel has agreed to the "necessary conditions" for a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza, according to US President Donald Trump. On Truth Social, Trump said the US would work with all parties during the ceasefire to end the conflict. He added that Qatar and Egypt had worked hard to bring peace and that they would present the final proposal. Trump expressed hope that Hamas would accept the deal, warning it would not get better and could only worsen.
Israel has not officially confirmed its approval of the deal, and Hamas has not commented. Trump's announcement comes ahead of a planned meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu next week, where Trump said he would be "very firm." He also said he believed Netanyahu wanted to end the hostilities in Gaza and that a deal was likely next week.
Earlier, Israel’s Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer was set to meet US special envoy Steve Witkoff, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Vice President JD Vance in Washington. Meanwhile, Israel's UN ambassador, Danny Danon, told the BBC that Israel was "absolutely" ready for a ceasefire. He said Hamas was "playing hardball" and that Israel was putting pressure on them. If Hamas refused to negotiate, Danon said Israel would use more military force to bring back hostages.
About 50 Israeli hostages remain in Gaza, with at least 20 believed to be alive. Last week, Hamas told the BBC that they were trying to broker a new ceasefire and hostage release. But negotiations with Israel have hit a standstill. Israel insists the conflict will only end if Hamas is completely dismantled. Hamas, meanwhile, calls for a permanent truce and wants Israel to withdraw fully from Gaza.
Trump’s comments follow Israel’s order for civilians in northern Gaza to evacuate. On Monday, at least 20 Palestinians were killed in an Israeli air strike on a seaside café in Gaza City, according to witnesses and medics. Israel’s military launched the campaign in Gaza after Hamas's attack on October 7, 2023, which killed about 1,200 Israelis. Since then, more than 56,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to Gaza’s health ministry.
The military also said it’s looking into reports of civilians being hurt or targeted near aid centers led by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a group supported by Israel and the US. Over 170 charities and NGOs have called for the group to close, accusing it of firing on Palestinians seeking aid. Israel denies the claims, saying the aid group is needed to avoid Hamas interference.
Last March, a ceasefire fell apart after Israel conducted new strikes on Gaza. The military said the strikes were “pre-emptive” and aimed at stopping Hamas from launching attacks and re-arming.
The previous ceasefire, which began on January 19, had three stages. It was supposed to include a permanent ceasefire, the release of some hostages, and Israeli troop withdrawal. But it never went beyond the first stage.
