Trump Calls On Hamas To Accept 'Final Proposal' For 60-Day Gaza Ceasefire
US President Donald Trump has urged the Palestinian militant group, Hamas, to accept the final proposal for a 60-day ceasefire with Israel.
He also warned Hamas that not accepting the deal "will only get worse", adding that the parties will work on ending the war during the truce.
"My Representatives had a long and productive meeting with the Israelis today on Gaza. Israel has agreed to the necessary conditions to finalise the 60-Day CEASEFIRE, during which time we will work with all parties to end the War," Trump said in a post on Truth Social.
"The Qataris and Egyptians, who have worked very hard to help bring Peace, will deliver this final proposal. 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," he added.
US Officials To Meet Israeli Leader
While Trump did not mention his representatives, US special envoy Steve Witkoff, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Vice President JD Vance were due to meet Ron Dermer, a senior adviser to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Earlier on Tuesday, Trump told reporters that he is hopeful that a ceasefire-for-hostages agreement can be achieved next week between Israel and Hamas militants in Gaza. He will meet Netanyahu at the White House next week.
Hamas has said it is willing to release the remaining hostages in Gaza under any deal to end the war. However, Israel said it can only end the war if Hamas is disarmed and dismantled. Hamas has refused to lay down its arms.
Earlier this week, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said that Israel has agreed to a US-proposed 60-day ceasefire and hostage deal, and put the ball in Hamas' court.
Netanyahu To Meet Trump
Trump and his aides appear to be seeking to use any momentum from the US and Israeli strikes on Iran nuclear sites, as well as a ceasefire that took hold last week in that conflict, to secure a lasting truce in the war in Gaza.
During a visit to Florida, Trump told reporters that he would be "very firm" with Netanyahu on the need for a speedy ceasefire in Gaza while noting that the Israeli prime minister wants one.
"We hope it's going to happen. And we're looking forward to it happening sometime next week," he told reporters. "We want to get the hostages out."
As many as 56,000 Palestinians have so far been killed in the war that has raged since October 7, 2023, according to Gaza's health ministry. Israel's military offensive in the besieged strip has caused a hunger crisis and internal displacement of Gaza's entire population.
Israel's military action has also prompted accusations of genocide at the International Court of Justice and of war crimes at the International Criminal Court. Israel has denied all these accusations.
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