In a major diplomatic development, US President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday, July 1, that Israel has agreed to a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza, contingent on "necessary conditions". Trump issued the statement on his social media platform Truth Social, urging Hamas to accept the deal swiftly, cautioning that "it will only get worse" if they do not.

The announcement comes ahead of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s scheduled visit to the White House next week, signalling a renewed push by the Trump administration to broker a temporary truce and potentially lay the groundwork for ending the devastating conflict that has gripped the Gaza Strip since October 2023.

Trump's Ceasefire Announcement

"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," Trump posted.

"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.

The US-led diplomatic effort, supported by Qatar and Egypt, aims to halt active hostilities, facilitate hostage negotiations, and reopen humanitarian corridors in the battered Palestinian enclave.

According to sources, the Trump administration is treating this ceasefire window as a litmus test — a pause that could either open the door to a broader peace framework or serve as a final opportunity before more aggressive military strategies resume.

Qatar-Egypt Mediation and Terms of the Deal

Reports from CNN and other diplomatic sources indicate that a new ceasefire proposal was delivered to both Israel and Hamas by Qatari mediators on Tuesday. Backed by Washington, the 60-day truce aims to:

• Pause active hostilities

• Facilitate hostage releases

• Enable humanitarian aid deliveries

• Encourage political groundwork for permanent cessation

This proposal follows the previous ceasefire, which lasted from January 19 to March 2025, but collapsed after mutual accusations of violations. Israel renewed its offensive in March, citing Hamas' non-compliance and continued threats.

High-Level Diplomatic Engagements in Washington

As part of the broader effort, Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer is currently in Washington DC, holding high-level meetings with US officials, including:

• Vice President JD Vance

• Secretary of State Marco Rubio

• Special Envoy Steve Witkoff

Dermer’s agenda reportedly includes:

• Finalising the ceasefire framework

• Addressing the Iran threat matrix

• Advancing talks on hostage exchange mechanisms

• Discussing long-term plans for Gaza post-conflict governance

These meetings are part of a strategic diplomatic campaign to navigate the increasingly complex regional dynamics while aligning Israel’s military objectives with Washington’s evolving position on the war.

Hamas’ Position: Hostage Deal vs Disarmament

On its part, Hamas has expressed conditional willingness to release all hostages currently held in Gaza, but only as part of a comprehensive agreement to end the war. However, the core impasse remains unresolved — Israel continues to demand the complete disarmament and dismantling of Hamas, a condition the group has outright rejected.

This disagreement has stymied past truce attempts and could jeopardise the current proposal unless both sides soften their hardline positions under international pressure.

Toll of the Gaza War

The Gaza war, which began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a cross-border attack, killing 1,200 Israelis and abducting 251 hostages, has since devolved into one of the deadliest and most destructive conflicts in the region’s recent history.

Humanitarian Crisis:

• Over 56,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to Gaza’s health ministry.

• The entire population of Gaza is now displaced internally, facing food scarcity, lack of medical care, and infrastructure collapse.

• Humanitarian aid deliveries have been largely suspended since March 2025, with minimal exceptions.

Military Escalation:

• On Monday alone, Israel launched 50 aerial strikes across eastern Gaza City, following evacuation warnings.

• Al Jazeera reports that at least 68 Palestinians were killed on Sunday, including 47 in Gaza City.

Legal and International Ramifications

The war has drawn increasing international condemnation, with legal scrutiny intensifying:

• Israel faces genocide allegations at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

• War crimes charges are being considered at the International Criminal Court (ICC).

While Israel categorically denies all allegations, citing its right to self-defence, international pressure is mounting, particularly around civilian casualties, blockade policies, and disproportionate military response.

Conclusion: Ceasefire or Continued Carnage?

President Trump’s announcement of Israel’s conditional agreement to a 60-day ceasefire signals a potential turning point — but the final outcome hinges on Hamas’ response, which remains uncertain as of now.

As Netanyahu prepares for crucial talks at the White House, and Dermer holds technical and policy-level engagements, the world watches closely to see whether diplomacy will prevail or the conflict will spiral further.

Should Hamas reject the deal, President Trump has hinted at a sharper military response, positioning this ceasefire as perhaps the last diplomatic off-ramp in an increasingly volatile confrontation.

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