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US President Donald Trump has claimed that Israel has agreed to the “necessary conditions” for a proposed 60-day ceasefire in Gaza, raising hopes of a potential truce even as key issues remain unresolved between the warring sides.
In a statement posted on his Truth Social platform, Trump said the United States would “work with all parties to end the War” and urged Hamas to accept the offer. “I hope… that Hamas takes this Deal, because it will not get better – IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE,” Trump wrote.
Israel has yet to publicly confirm it has accepted the proposal. However, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said on X that the majority of the Israeli government supported a framework for the release of hostages, calling it an “opportunity that must not be missed.”
A senior Hamas official told the group remained “ready and serious” about a deal—if it ensures a full end to hostilities and includes Israeli withdrawal. But Palestinian sources familiar with the talks say the latest draft shows no substantive change from an earlier plan Hamas rejected in June.
“The core issues remain unresolved,” a Palestinian official involved in negotiations said, adding that the current framework does not guarantee an end to the war or Israeli military withdrawal after the ceasefire period.
Negotiations, led by Qatari and Egyptian mediators with input from US envoy Steve Witkoff, appear to be focusing on modifying an earlier deal that collapsed in March. That agreement broke down after Israel resumed airstrikes, citing Hamas’s continued military activity.
Trump’s statement comes just days before his scheduled meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The US president said he intended to be “very firm” and believed Netanyahu was now serious about ending the war. “He wants to. I can tell you he wants to,” Trump added.
For Israel, the release of over 20 living hostages remains the top priority. Their ongoing captivity has fuelled growing domestic pressure on the Netanyahu government, with protests intensifying across the country.
Meanwhile, the humanitarian toll continues to escalate. At least 56,647 Palestinians have died in Gaza since Israel began its military operation in response to Hamas’s October 7 attacks, according to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry.
Criticism is also mounting over the controversial Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which 170 aid groups say should be shut down over reports of Israeli forces firing on civilians at aid sites. Israel denies the allegations.
Despite signs of diplomatic movement, Hamas remains sceptical of any ceasefire that lacks a clear path to a permanent end to the war. Negotiations are expected to continue this week in Cairo.