WASHINGTON D.C., U.S.— A new ceasefire deal in Gaza could be just days away — or not — depending on whether Hamas agrees to the latest proposal backed by Israel and championed by U.S. President Donald Trump.
In a characteristically bold post on Truth Social, Trump announced that Israel had agreed to the “necessary conditions” to finalize a 60-day ceasefire aimed at ending the devastating war in Gaza.
The proposal, which comes via mediators from Qatar and Egypt, is reportedly on the table for Hamas — and Trump made it clear the offer won’t be sweetened.
“I hope… that Hamas takes this Deal, because it will not get better — IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE,” he wrote.
Details of the so-called “necessary conditions” weren’t disclosed, but Israel’s UN Ambassador Danny Danon confirmed that Israel is “absolutely” ready to pause the fighting — provided Hamas steps up and says yes.
Trump’s announcement sets the stage for a high-stakes meeting next week with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The president hinted that he would be “very firm” with the Israeli leader, while expressing confidence that Netanyahu is ready to put an end to the war.
“He wants to. I can tell you he wants to,” Trump said. “I think we’ll have a deal next week.”
Roughly 50 Israeli hostages are still believed to be in Gaza, with at least 20 thought to be alive. Talks to secure their release have repeatedly stalled.
Trump’s optimism comes amid increased U.S. involvement in peace efforts. Israel’s Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer was scheduled to meet U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Vice President JD Vance in Washington on Tuesday.
Despite these developments, the ground reality in Gaza remains dire. On Monday, an Israeli airstrike reportedly killed at least 20 Palestinians at a seafront café in Gaza City. This followed fresh evacuation orders in northern Gaza ahead of what the Israeli military described as “expanded operations.”
Since the war began after Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel — which left around 1,200 people dead — the conflict has taken a staggering toll. According to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry, more than 56,000 Palestinians have been killed.
Efforts to distribute aid have also sparked controversy. The Israeli military is facing backlash after multiple reports of civilians being injured or killed while approaching aid centers managed by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), an initiative backed by the U.S. and Israel.
Humanitarian organizations including Oxfam and Save the Children have called for the group’s closure, accusing Israeli forces of opening fire on aid-seekers. Israel denies these claims, maintaining that GHF is critical to preventing Hamas from hijacking aid supplies.
This week’s ceasefire push isn’t Israel and Hamas’s first dance. A previous truce agreed in January collapsed in March after Israel launched what it called “pre-emptive strikes” to thwart Hamas attacks. That three-phase plan never made it past stage one.
Stage two was supposed to include a permanent truce, the release of all hostages, and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza — all still on the wish list, but far from reality.
For now, the world watches and waits to see whether this latest attempt to halt the bloodshed can stick — or if Gaza will face yet another cycle of war, diplomacy, and disappointment.
