Trump has proposed a ceasefire in Gaza, but doubts linger about a real agreement between Israel and Hamas. According to a fresh report from Axios, this development came after numerous hours of discussions on Tuesday at the White House involving Trump’s chief envoy Steve Witkoff and Israeli Minister for Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer, a senior adviser to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. As per the report, the two parties engaged in discussions regarding a revised ceasefire and a proposal for the release of captives, which they claim was introduced by Qatar— a significant detail that remains to be confirmed by the Gulf State. On Tuesday, Trump stated that Israel is open to a 60-day ceasefire and urged Hamas to accept it, suggesting it could either lead to an end to the conflict or “GET WORSE.”
This announcement precedes Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s upcoming visit to the White House. Last week, Trump called for both sides to finalise a deal to end hostilities and secure the release of Israeli captives, following one of the deadliest days in Gaza with over 70 casualties from Israeli airstrikes. Once more, Trump has turned his attention towards Gaza, possibly banking on Hamas feeling pressured to accept a ceasefire proposal, following his heavy promotion of the US strike that allegedly dismantled Iran’s nuclear program, and the tenuous ceasefire between Israel and Iran that was established in June.
Trump announced that Egypt and Qatar will propose the final ceasefire terms, which remain undisclosed. Sources suggest it will require Hamas to release 10 living and 18 deceased Israeli hostages during a 60-day ceasefire. There are believed to be around 50 Israeli hostages still in Gaza, with Israel estimating that about half are deceased. The release of the remaining hostages (POW) depends on a permanent ceasefire being established. The release of thousands of Palestinian detainees from Israeli prisons is once more absent from the conversation. Qatar has not yet communicated regarding the proposed agreement, and it is unclear if Trump’s suggestion, which Hamas has yet to acknowledge, will be more effective than past efforts. The only certainty is that both domestic and international pressures on the U.S., Israel, and Hamas to end the 21-month conflict in Gaza have intensified. Over the weekend, protesters in Israel called for a resolution to release the remaining hostages in Gaza. However, many believe Netanyahu’s reluctance to end the war is the main barrier to a productive agreement. While Trump claims Israel supports a ceasefire proposal, analysts suggest the conditions are unlikely to satisfy Hamas, although according to the Mehr News Agency, “a high-ranking Hamas official said on Tuesday that the Palestinian Resistance movement was ready and determined to enter a new round of indirect negotiations with Israel, intending to end the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and reach a permanent ceasefire.”
The US diplomacy has turned into a blackhole, filled with chaos, uncertainty and deception, and it remains to be seen if Trump will provide the necessary guarantees for the newly proposed 60-day ceasefire to result in a lasting conclusion to the conflict? For the time being, the specifics of the proposal have not been made public. All information available at this time is derived from an Axios report, which we are featuring today…
Barak Ravid reports for AXIOS…
Trump says Israel has agreed to terms for 60-day Gaza ceasefire
President Trump announced Tuesday that Israel has agreed to an updated proposal for a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza that would secure the release of some hostages. He urged Hamas to accept the deal, warning on Truth Social that “it will not get better — IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE.”
Why it matters: Fresh off brokering a ceasefire between Israel and Iran after 12 days of war, Trump is now pressing for a breakthrough in Gaza, where the conflict has dragged on for more than a year and a half.
The 60-day ceasefire, which has been under negotiations for months, would mark a significant step in this direction. There’s no indication yet that Hamas is prepared to accept the terms of the deal.
Driving the news: Trump’s announcement followed several hours of meetings Tuesday at the White House between his envoy Steve Witkoff and Israeli Minister for Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer, a top adviser to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The two discussed an updated ceasefire and hostage-release proposal put forward by Qatar. Dermer informed Witkoff that Israel accepts the Qatari proposal and is prepared to begin indirect talks with Hamas to finalise the deal, a senior Israeli official told Axios.
What they’re saying: “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,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. He said Qatar and Egypt, which have been mediating between the two parties, would deliver this “final proposal” to Hamas.
“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,” the president warned.
Yes, but: It remains unclear whether the latest proposal addresses the core sticking point in the talks: Hamas’ demand for a firm U.S. commitment that a 60-day ceasefire will lead to a permanent end to the war. In previous rounds, proposals were coordinated in advance by the U.S., Qatar, and Israel, but ultimately fell short of Hamas’ expectations.
Behind the scenes: “We came with ideas, and our objective today was to get Israelis to agree. And they did,” a U.S. official told Axios.
Zoom in: The draft agreement envisions Israel and Hamas using the 60-day ceasefire to negotiate both a permanent end to the war and a road map for governing post-war Gaza. For Israel, any long-term ceasefire must include the removal of Hamas from power, the dismantling of its military wing and the exile of its senior commanders. Israel wants Gaza to be administered by local Palestinian officials unaffiliated with either Hamas or the Palestinian Authority, with Arab states like Egypt, Jordan, the UAE and Saudi Arabia playing active roles.
What to watch: Israel on Monday ordered civilians in additional areas of Gaza City to evacuate south, signalling preparations for a potential expansion of the IDF’s ground offensive. Israeli officials warn that if negotiations on the ceasefire and hostage deal don’t advance soon, the military will escalate its operations.
“We’ll do to Gaza City and the central camps what we did to Rafah. Everything will turn to dust,” a senior Israeli official told Axios. “It’s not our preferred option, but if there’s no movement toward a hostage deal, we won’t have any other choice.”
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Author: Global Affairs
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