Trump says Israel has agreed on terms for 60-day ceasefire in Gaza, and has warning for Hamas

2 days ago 4

Donald Trump has said Israel has agreed on terms for a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza, and is urging Hamas to accept the deal before conditions worsen.

The US president announced the development ahead of hosting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for talks at the White House next week.

He has been increasing pressure on the Israeli government and Hamas to work out a ceasefire and hostage agreement to end the war.

"My Representatives had a long and productive meeting with the Israelis today on Gaza. Israel has agreed to the necessary conditions to finalise 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 would 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.

Analysis: Trump wants to be seen as a peacemaker

This development is significant, but it's not entirely surprising.

Behind the scenes, the Israelis have been indicating for a while that they were prepared to sign up to a 60-day ceasefire.

The extremists in Benjamin Netanyahu's government are not prepared to accept a permanent truce - so if he were to sign up to that, he risks collapsing his entire government.

Sixty days takes them to the point where the Israeli parliament is in recess, so it is much safer for him, politically speaking.

But Hamas has always been adamant that it wants a permanent end to the violence in Gaza, and there's no indication at this stage that the organisation is prepared to compromise.

So this is Donald Trump piling the pressure on Hamas ahead of Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to Washington next Monday.

He's hoping he may be in a position at that stage to announce a ceasefire in Gaza - hard on the heels of having brokered an agreement between Israel and Iran.

Mr Trump ultimately wants to continue to proclaim himself as the peacemaker in this region.

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 free 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.