President Donald Trump said Tuesday that Israel agreed to the terms of the 60-day ceasefire in Gaza and warned Hamas to accept the deal before the conditions worsen.
Trump announced the development as he prepares to host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for a meeting at the White House on Monday. The US leaders are increasing pressure on the Israeli government and Hamas, mediating ceasefires and hostage agreements, leading to an end to the war in Gaza.
“My representative was holding a long and productive meeting with the Israelis in Gaza today. Israel has agreed to the conditions necessary to secure a 60-day ceasefire. During that time, we will work with all political parties to end the war.”
“I hope Hamas will make this deal for the benefit of the Middle East.
Trump’s promise that it is his best final offer may find Hamas and a skeptical audience. Even before the end of the longest ceasefire in March, Trump repeatedly issued a dramatic ultimate to pressure Hamas to agree to a longer pause in combat where more hostages were released and aid to Gaza civilians would get more aid.
Still, Trump sees the present moment as a potential tipping point in a brutal conflict that has killed more than 56,000 people on Palestinian territory. The Gaza Ministry of Health does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its deaths.
Hamas can still put a fatal blow to the Israeli army. However, US officials believe the group has declined significantly as its centralized command and control capabilities deteriorated over the course of nearly 21 months of conflict. Meanwhile, Hamas Chief Backer Iran was severely abused last month in a 12-day strike by Israel and the US over a major nuclear facility in Tehran.
Israeli Strategic Issues Minister Ron Dahmer was in Washington on Tuesday and discussed the Gaza ceasefire, Iran and other issues for conversations with senior administrators. Dahmer was expected to meet with Vice President J.D. Vance Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoy group Steve Witkov.
Earlier on Tuesday, Trump reiterated his hopes of building a ceasefire deal for Israeli Hamas next week.
Trump said the Israeli Prime Minister is ready to reach an agreement, and Trump was asked if it was time to sign a ceasefire agreement with Netanyahu.
“He wants,” Trump said of Netanyahu in an exchange with reporters while visiting Florida’s new immigration detention facility. “I think there will be a deal next week.”
The talks between Israel and Hamas have repeatedly been upset about major fixations, whether or not the war should end as part of a ceasefire agreement. Around 50 hostages remained bred in Gaza, with less than half of them still alive.
Hamas says he is willing to free all hostages in exchange for the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces and the end of the war in Gaza. Israel refuses and the group refuses, saying it agrees to end the war once Hamas surrenders, disarms and enters exile.
At an oval office meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Donald Trump has once again doubled in the US, which controls the Gaza Strip.
The Trump announcement comes as more than 150 international charities and humanitarian groups were called on Tuesday as they dissolved the controversial system of Israeli and US aid to distribute aid to Gaza due to confusion and deadly violence against Palestinians seeking food at the site.
A joint statement by groups that include Oxfam, Save the Children and Amnesty International followed the murder of at least 10 Palestinians who were desperately sought food they needed, witnesses and health officials said. Meanwhile, according to Nasser Hospital, Israeli airstrikes killed at least 37 people in Khan Eunice in southern Gaza.
“Does the tent, are the tent collided with two missiles?” asked Um Seyf Abu Leda, whose son was killed in a strike. The mourner threw flowers into the body bag.
Before Trump’s announcement, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz had warned that his country would respond forcefully to the dismissal of missiles. The sirens echoed across parts of Israel, warning residents of the attack and the launch of two projectiles from Gaza. Everything was intercepted by the Israeli defense system.
The missile launch marked the first attack by Iran-backed Hooty rebels since the end of the 12-day war launched with Iran and Iran. Katz said Yemen could face the same fate as Tehran.
Nasruddin Amer, deputy director of the Houthi Media Office, vowed on social media that Yemen “will not stop supporting Gaza…unless the attacks stop and the siege of Gaza are lifted.”
Netanyahu spoke to the Cabinet and did not elaborate on his plans to visit Washington next week. Iran is also expected to become the main topic of discussion in Washington after Trump brokered a ceasefire with Israel.
Magiddy reported from Cairo. Tia Goldenberg of Jerusalem, the Gaza Strip, Wafa Shurafa of Dei Al Bala and Sally Abou Al Jaud of Beirut contributed to this report.
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