United States President Donald Trump says Israel has agreed to the key conditions for a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza.
Trump made the statement on his Truth Social platform, adding that the US, Egypt, and Qatar would work together to push the deal forward.
“The Qataris and Egyptians, who have worked very hard to help bring peace, will deliver this final proposal,” Trump wrote. “I hope… that Hamas takes this deal, because it will not get better — it will only get worse.”
He added that during the two-month ceasefire, the US would work with all sides to try and end the war completely. Trump is also expected to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu next week, where he said he would be “very firm”.
Although Trump said Israel had accepted the conditions, there has been no official confirmation from the Israeli government or from Hamas.
Earlier on Tuesday, Israel’s ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, told the BBC that Israel was “absolutely” ready for a ceasefire. But he warned that Hamas was “playing hardball” and said Israel would increase military pressure if no agreement is reached.
“The war will end when the hostages are back home,” Danon said.
According to Israeli officials, around 50 hostages are still in Gaza, with at least 20 believed to be alive.
Talks between the two sides have remained stuck for weeks, despite efforts by international mediators. Hamas continues to demand a full withdrawal of Israeli forces and a permanent truce, while Israel insists the group must be fully dismantled before the war ends.
Trump’s comment came just after Israeli air strikes hit northern Gaza. One of the attacks on Monday killed at least 20 people at a seafront cafe in Gaza City, according to medics and eyewitnesses.
Since the start of the conflict on October 7, 2023, more than 56,000 people have been killed in Gaza, based on figures from the Hamas-run health ministry. The war began after Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel, killing about 1,200 people.
This is not the first time a ceasefire deal has been attempted. A previous truce broke down in March after Israel launched new strikes, saying Hamas was planning more attacks.
Trump said he believes Netanyahu is serious about peace. “He wants to. I can tell you he wants to. I think we’ll have a deal next week,” the US president said.
Talks are expected to continue as pressure mounts from both inside and outside the region.
