US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that Israel had agreed to "the necessary terms to finalize" a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza, during which efforts will be made to end the war in the Palestinian enclave.
Through a post on social media, Trump stressed that peace efforts are being coordinated by Qatar and Egypt, who have worked hard to reach an agreement.
"The Qataris and the Egyptians, who have made great efforts for peace, will deliver the final proposal. I hope, for the good of the Middle East, that Hamas accepts this agreement, because it will not get better — IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE," he said.
Qatari officials on Tuesday presented Hamas and Israel with a new proposal for a 60-day ceasefire, which is supported by the Trump administration, according to a source familiar with the matter.
The proposal was finalized after months of behind-the-scenes efforts led by President Donald Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, the source said. It was submitted the same day that Israel's Minister of Strategic Affairs, Ron Dermer, visited Washington for meetings with top Trump administration officials.
The new proposal comes days after Qatar helped broker a ceasefire between Iran and Israel following US and Israeli attacks on Iran's nuclear program, and months after an initial proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza, which was supported by the Trump administration, was rejected by Hamas.
A source told CNN that the new version — which the Qataris also worked on — attempted to address Hamas concerns about the previous proposal. During the truce, Israeli hostages would be released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, the source added.
Trump told reporters on Tuesday that he would be “very firm” in talks with Netanyahu at a planned meeting at the White House next week and predicted that the prime minister wants to end the war. “He wants it. I can tell you he wants it. I think we’ll have a deal next week,” Trump said.
But even with a new proposal on the table, a ceasefire agreement remains a significant challenge. Hamas has long been pushing for a permanent ceasefire, so it is unclear whether it will agree to a temporary 60-day truce. Hamas also continues to insist on its core demand that the war must end and that it must remain in power, something Israel will not allow.
Source: protothema.gr
