Israel has accepted “the necessary conditions to finalise” a 60-day ceasefire deal in Gaza, US President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday, in a significant breakthrough in a stalled negotiation to end the war.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote: “We will work with all parties to end the war. 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 proposed two-month truce was reportedly agreed following meetings between senior US officials and Israel’s Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer in Washington. Trump said Egypt and Qatar will now relay the finalised plan to Hamas.
While Israeli officials have not yet publicly confirmed Trump’s announcement, two Arab diplomats told The Times of Israel major sticking points remain – including Hamas’s demand to return to the pre-war method of distributing aid. Israel insists the current Gaza Humanitarian Foundation system prevents Hamas from diverting supplies, but critics say it forces civilians into dangerous zones under IDF fire.
The reported terms would see Hamas release 10 living hostages and return the bodies of 18 Israelis during the 60-day pause. The release of all remaining hostages would be conditional on a permanent ceasefire being reached during that period.
A senior source told The Times of Israel that Hamas’s reply to the proposal was “generally positive,” but included demands aimed at preventing Israel from resuming hostilities if talks on a permanent truce stall.
One of the amendments suggested by Hamas would spread out the hostage releases even more evenly throughout the ceasefire – rather than handing over most captives early on – to keep diplomatic pressure on Israel to follow through.
Trump said he expects a deal as soon as next week, ahead of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to the White House. “I think we’ll have a deal next week,” he said. “Netanyahu wants it too.”
Meanwhile, Netanyahu reportedly told his security cabinet: “We need to kill every person that holds a weapon. Nothing less than this.” But Channel 12 claimed he was now prepared to compromise.
In Gaza, at least 50 hostages remain in captivity, including the bodies of at least 28 people confirmed dead by the IDF.
