Former US President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that Israel has signaled approval for a proposed 60-day cessation of hostilities in Gaza, pending agreement from Hamas.
According to two senior US administration sources, while Israel has accepted the outlined terms, the ball now lies in Hamas’s court. Taking to his Truth Social platform, Trump stated, “Israel has now accepted the conditions needed to move towards a 60-day ceasefire, during which we’ll continue working with all parties involved to secure a lasting end to the conflict.”
He credited both Qatar and Egypt for their persistent diplomatic efforts, noting that these nations would formally present the final offer to Hamas leadership.
Reflecting on recent discussions, Trump added, “My team had an extensive and constructive dialogue with Israeli officials today concerning Gaza.” He further urged Hamas to seize the opportunity, warning, “This is the best deal they will get. If they reject it, the situation will deteriorate further.”
The proposal surfaces shortly after reports that Qatar had mediated a truce between Iran and Israel, following last month’s US and Israeli airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites.
With the end of Israel’s 12-day conflict with Iran providing a temporary diplomatic opening, Trump appears eager to secure another peace agreement to add to his list of recent foreign policy initiatives.
Meanwhile, violence continued unabated in Gaza, where the local civil defense organization reported that at least 26 Palestinians lost their lives on Tuesday during Israeli military operations.
Amid escalating violence, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) expressed serious concern over the deteriorating humanitarian situation. The ICRC warned that the few medical centers still operating in Gaza are stretched to breaking point, as most hospitals have either been rendered inoperable or destroyed after months of intense fighting and aid restrictions.
“The escalation in Gaza City and Jabaliya over the past day and a half has resulted in numerous civilian casualties,” the Red Cross said in its statement.
Local authorities reported that 16 individuals were killed near food aid distribution points in central and southern Gaza on Tuesday alone. An additional 10 fatalities were reported elsewhere due to Israeli military strikes.
Responding to the reports, the Israeli army told AFP that their forces had fired warning shots aimed at dispersing individuals approaching troops, stating that they were unaware of civilian injuries but pledged to investigate the incidents. Concerning an episode in Rafah, the military clarified that the shots were fired several hundred meters from a non-operational aid site.
In a joint statement issued Monday, 169 humanitarian groups called for an immediate overhaul of the recently introduced US- and Israeli-supported aid delivery system in Gaza. The organizations labeled the current distribution framework “lethal,” blaming it for escalating civilian casualties.
They appealed for a return to the previous UN-led humanitarian coordination mechanism, which functioned until March before being halted due to Israel’s complete blockade on Gaza following stalled ceasefire negotiations with Hamas.
Amid rising international pressure to bring the war to a close and facilitate the release of hostages, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced his upcoming visit to the United States. He is scheduled to meet with Trump and top US security officials next week.
During a visit to a migrant detention facility in Florida, Trump remarked that Netanyahu also desires an end to the fighting.
On the other side, Hamas official Taher al-Nunu told AFP that the group remains open to any proposal that ensures a full ceasefire, withdrawal of Israeli forces, and an end to the war. However, he added that as of now, no decisive breakthrough has been reached.
