Trump says Israel agrees to 60-day ceasefire in Gaza, urges Hamas to accept

President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that Israel has agreed to terms for a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza, during which the US and other parties would work toward an end to the war. Trump pushed Hamas to accept the deal.

"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,” Trump said.

The news comes as Trump prepares to host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for talks at the White House on Monday. The US president has shown increased interest in a ceasefire and hostage agreement in the region after the US brokered a peace agreement between Israel and Iran.

Hamas says it is willing to free all the hostages in exchange for a full withdrawal of Israeli troops and an end to the war in Gaza. Israel rejects that, saying it will agree to end the war if Hamas surrenders, disarms and goes into exile, something that the group refuses.

Israeli Apache helicopters fly, near the Israel-Gaza border, as seen from Israel. Reuters

Hamas is still capable of landing fatal blows to Israeli forces. But US officials believe that the group’s been significantly diminished as its centralised command and control capabilities have deteriorated over the course of the nearly 21-month conflict.

The president’s promise that it was his best and final offer may find a skeptical audience with Hamas.

Trump has repeatedly issued dramatic ultimatums to pressure Hamas to agree to longer pauses in the fighting that would see the release of more hostages and a return of more aid to Gaza’s civilian populace.

Associated Press