Trump secures Israeli agreement to US-backed ceasefire proposal as Hamas weighs response

President Donald Trump announced July 1 that Israel has agreed to “the necessary conditions” for a 60-day ceasefire with Hamas, raising hopes for a possible end to the nearly two-year war in Gaza.

“My Representatives had a long and productive meeting with the Israelis today on Gaza,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “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,” he warned.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, speaking from Estonia, confirmed Israel’s acceptance. 

“We are serious in our will to reach a hostage deal and a ceasefire,” he said. “We said yes to Special Envoy Witkoff’s proposals.”

Hamas has so far responded cautiously. Spokesman Taher al-Nunu said the group is “ready and serious regarding reaching an agreement,” the New York Post reported July 2. However, he added that Hamas would only accept a proposal that “clearly leads to a complete end to war.” 

The development follows sustained diplomatic pressure from Trump, who has made resolving the conflict a top foreign policy priority, as violence continues to escalate. 

As CatholicVote previously reported, Christians in the Holy Land have been especially vulnerable during the war. In recent weeks, settler-led attacks on one Christian Palestinian town — including the killing of three men — have prompted pleas for help. 

“We have to stop this bleeding,” one local priest told CatholicVote in an interview last week, asking for support from American Catholics.

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