Trump Says Israel Has Agreed to 60-Day Gaza Ceasefire, Urges Hamas to Accept ‘Before It Gets Worse’
WASHINGTON — Former President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that Israel has agreed to the terms of a proposed 60-day ceasefire in Gaza, and he’s now putting the pressure on Hamas to accept the deal — warning the group that the opportunity won’t come again.
“Israel has agreed to the necessary conditions to finalize the 60-day ceasefire,” Trump posted, adding that Qatar and Egypt would deliver the final proposal to Hamas. “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.”
Talks Heat Up Ahead of Netanyahu’s U.S. Visit
Trump’s announcement comes just days before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to visit the White House for high-level talks on the war in Gaza, regional security, and Iran. The former president has been ramping up diplomatic efforts to secure a ceasefire and a hostage release deal, aiming to end a war that has dragged on for nearly 21 months.
In Washington, Israeli Minister for Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer met Tuesday with senior U.S. officials — including Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff — to discuss the ceasefire proposal and other key issues.
Earlier in the day, Trump expressed confidence that Netanyahu is ready to make a deal.
“He wants to,” Trump told reporters while touring a Florida immigration detention center. “I think we’ll have a deal next week.”
The Ceasefire Plan: Still a Stalemate?
Despite Trump’s optimism, the central sticking point remains: What happens after the ceasefire?
- Hamas says it’s willing to release all remaining hostages (about 50, with fewer than half believed to be alive) in exchange for a full Israeli troop withdrawal and a complete end to the war.
- Israel, on the other hand, demands that Hamas surrender, disarm, and go into exile — a nonstarter for the militant group.
Trump has tried to frame this new ceasefire push as a turning point in the war. But Hamas may see his rhetoric as just more pressure tactics, especially since previous ceasefire efforts — including the war’s longest pause in March — have collapsed without lasting results.
War’s Toll Still Rising in Gaza
Meanwhile, the situation on the ground in Gaza remains dire. Over 56,000 people have been killed since the conflict began, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants.
- At least 37 people were killed Tuesday in Israeli airstrikes on Khan Younis, according to Nasser Hospital.
- Witnesses also reported the deaths of at least 10 Palestinians waiting in line for food aid, prompting outrage from over 150 international aid groups, including Oxfam, Save the Children, and Amnesty International. These groups are now calling for the dismantling of the Israeli- and U.S.-backed aid distribution system, citing ongoing chaos and violence at food sites.
“Tents, tents — they are hitting with two missiles?” cried Um Seif Abu Leda, whose son was among the victims.
Houthi Missiles and Regional Tensions
As Gaza suffers, the wider region simmers.
On Tuesday, sirens wailed across Israel as the country intercepted missiles launched from both Gaza and Yemen. It marked the first Houthi rebel attack since the end of the 12-day Israel-Iran conflict last month — a conflict that reportedly damaged key Iranian nuclear sites in joint Israeli-U.S. strikes.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned that Yemen could face the same fate as Tehran if attacks continue. In response, Houthi spokesperson Nasruddin Amer doubled down, saying Yemen would not stop its support for Gaza until “the aggression stops and the siege is lifted.”
Next Week: All Eyes on Washington
As Netanyahu heads to Washington, he’s expected to discuss not just the ceasefire and Gaza — but also a potential trade deal and follow-up on Trump’s Iran ceasefire initiative. For now, Trump is urging Hamas to take the deal on the table before, as he put it, “things get worse.”
The coming week could determine whether the region inches closer to peace — or plunges back into deeper chaos.
Source: AP News – Trump says Israel has agreed on terms for a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza and urges Hamas to accept deal
