Trump Proposes 60-Day Ceasefire in Gaza; Netanyahu and Hamas Weigh Responses

In a surprising turn of events, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has responded to U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement of a proposed ceasefire in Gaza, which Trump described as a final proposal encompassing a 60-day truce. The announcement was made early Wednesday via Trump's Truth Social account, where he claimed Netanyahu had already privately approved the initiative. Netanyahu, however, emphasized that Israel would not tolerate Hamas, making it clear in a Wednesday morning meeting that the era of Hamas's rule is over. “We are not going back to that. It’s over,” he stated. These comments followed Trump's assertion that Israel had agreed to the conditions laid out for the two-month cessation of hostilities, during which it would collaborate with relevant parties to bring an end to the ongoing war. Meanwhile, Netanyahu indicated that Israel is presented with significant opportunities that must not be wasted. He stated, “We will not squander them; we will not lose this opportunity,” adding that these chances involve not only defeating adversaries but also securing Israel's economic and energy future. Israel's Minister of Strategic Affairs, Ron Dermer, corroborated Netanyahu's stance, confirming that Israel accepted the ceasefire plan, which encompasses the release of hostages and readiness to initiate negotiations with Hamas to solidify the agreement. On the other hand, Hamas has begun reviewing the proposal. Reports indicate that the militia is open to ending the conflict in the Gaza Strip, provided there is a withdrawal of Israeli troops from the territory. This was made known through an official document released on Wednesday. Late Wednesday night, Trump reiterated the hope that Hamas would consent to the proposal to foster peace in the Middle East, cautioning that without their approval, the situation in Gaza might deteriorate further. The context of these discussions is fraught with urgency, as over 57,000 Palestinians have reportedly lost their lives in the ongoing conflict between Hamas and Israel over the past 18 months. Hamas characterized its actions as being undertaken with a sense of responsibility in pursuit of halting Israeli aggression. They have expressed intent to hold national consultations on the proposals received from mediators Egypt and Qatar to develop an agreement that ensures an end to hostilities, a withdrawal of Israeli forces, and the prompt delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza. Additionally, Palestinian media outlet Filastin reported that high-ranking Hamas officials acknowledged the intense diplomatic efforts being made by the mediators to bridge gaps between the conflicting parties, aiming to formulate a framework agreement and commence serious negotiations. It is noteworthy that Trump left out details regarding Egypt and Qatar's pivotal roles in delivering the final proposal to Hamas, potentially indicating their significant involvement in facilitating a resolution to this longstanding conflict. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2