WASHINGTON, D.C., July 2 (ANI): US President Donald Trump on Tuesday announced that Israel has agreed to the necessary conditions for a proposed 60-day ceasefire in Gaza, and warned Hamas that rejecting the deal would result in harsher consequences. Trump emphasized that the ceasefire would create an opportunity to negotiate an end to the conflict, but insisted that the situation would only deteriorate if Hamas declined the offer.
In a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump stated, “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. The Qataris and Egyptians, who have worked very hard to help bring peace, will deliver this 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.”
CNN, citing two US administration officials, reported that although Israel has signaled its readiness to move forward, Hamas has yet to agree to the terms. Qatari officials reportedly submitted a revised ceasefire proposal to both Israel and Hamas on Tuesday. The updated plan, which is backed by the Trump administration, comes after extensive negotiations led by Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff.
The proposal includes the phased release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas in exchange for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli custody. It reportedly addresses some of the concerns previously raised by Hamas during earlier negotiations.
The announcement follows recent Qatari mediation that helped de-escalate tensions between Iran and Israel after strikes on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. These developments come as Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer visited Washington for high-level talks with US officials, further reinforcing diplomatic efforts to halt hostilities in Gaza.
While the Trump administration has not officially disclosed the full details of the proposal, the momentum toward a temporary truce appears to be gaining traction. President Trump is expected to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on July 7 to discuss the situation in Gaza and the future of Israeli military operations.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Trump expressed confidence in Netanyahu’s willingness to end the conflict: “He wants to. I can tell you he wants to. I think we’ll have a deal next week.”
Despite the proposal, key challenges remain. Hamas continues to insist on a permanent ceasefire and its continued governance in Gaza—conditions Israel has firmly rejected. According to sources familiar with the discussions, Hamas’ core demands have not shifted, although recent signals suggest the group may be willing to show some flexibility.
An Israeli military official told CNN that although the country has not fully achieved its stated war goals, Hamas has been significantly weakened and forced into hiding, making it increasingly difficult to target the group’s remnants effectively.
On Sunday, Netanyahu claimed that recent military actions, including strikes on Iranian targets, had created “many opportunities,” including the potential for progress in securing the release of remaining hostages.
As diplomatic efforts continue behind closed doors, the path toward a ceasefire remains uncertain. However, with regional stakeholders—including Egypt and Qatar—intensifying their mediation efforts and the Trump administration doubling down on securing a pause in hostilities, the next week may prove decisive in shaping the trajectory of the Gaza conflict. (ANI)
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