U.S. President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that Israel has agreed to a 60-day ceasefire framework in Gaza, marking a significant step toward halting the ongoing conflict. The final proposal, facilitated through Qatar and Egypt, has now been forwarded to Hamas.
In a social media post, Trump urged Hamas to accept the deal: “It will not get better — IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE.” He emphasized the goal is to end the war during the ceasefire period.
The U.S. has proposed a plan in which half of the remaining hostages held by Hamas would be released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and the remains of deceased Palestinians. Hamas has stated willingness to negotiate hostage releases but continues to reject disarmament, a core Israeli condition for a permanent ceasefire.
The Gaza war erupted after the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attacks on Israel that left 1,200 people dead and 251 taken hostage. Since then, over 56,000 Palestinians have reportedly been killed in Israeli operations, according to Gaza’s health ministry. Israel denies accusations of genocide and war crimes brought before international courts.
Trump’s aides, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Vice President JD Vance, and envoy Steve Witkoff, have been engaged in direct talks with Israeli officials. Trump is expected to meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Washington on Monday, where he plans to press for swift implementation of the ceasefire deal.
The U.S. hopes to build on momentum from a recent truce between Israel and Iran, aiming for a broader de-escalation in the region.