U.S. President Donald Trump announced that Israel has accepted the necessary conditions for a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza, stating that the next move now depends on Hamas. In a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump emphasized that Qatar and Egypt will relay a “final offer” to Hamas and urged the group to accept it.
During the proposed ceasefire, Trump said the U.S. would work with all parties to end the war, adding, “The Qataris and Egyptians are making an extraordinary effort for peace. I hope Hamas accepts this deal—because there won’t be a better one, only worse outcomes.”
Although the details of the ceasefire offer were not disclosed, expectations are high in diplomatic circles. Trump also said he would be meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu next week and expressed optimism: “I believe Netanyahu wants to end the hostilities. I think we’ll reach an agreement next week.”
In recent days, Israel has increased airstrikes and issued evacuation orders in northern Gaza. On June 30, at least 20 Palestinians were reportedly killed in an Israeli airstrike on a beachfront café in Gaza City, according to health officials.
Last week, a senior Hamas official told the BBC that mediators were intensifying efforts to broker a new ceasefire and hostage deal, but that negotiations with Israel had stalled. Hamas has long demanded a permanent ceasefire and a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. Israel maintains that the conflict can only end once Hamas is completely dismantled.
The last ceasefire initiative between Israel and Hamas began in January 2024 but collapsed in March after Israel resumed its offensive. The three-phase plan’s second stage included the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners in Israel, and a full withdrawal of Israeli forces from the enclave. However, the agreement never progressed beyond the first stage.
Approximately 50 Israeli hostages are still believed to be held in Gaza, with at least 20 of them presumed alive. Meanwhile, Israel’s military campaign—launched after Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack that killed around 1,200 people—has resulted in at least 56,647 deaths in Gaza so far, according to local sources. The death toll continues to rise amid ongoing bombardments.
Human rights organizations warn that the humanitarian crisis on the ground is worsening. More than 170 international aid organizations and NGOs claim Israeli forces are “routinely” firing on Palestinians trying to access food from GHF, an Israeli-backed aid group. Israel has denied these allegations.
