Trump Says Israel Has Agreed to 60-Day Gaza Ceasefire Deal, warns Hamas
President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday evening that Israeli negotiators have agreed to a proposed 60-day ceasefire in Gaza — a move that could mark a fragile but significant turning point in a war that’s left the region battered, politically and emotionally.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump described the meeting between his representatives and Israeli officials as “long and productive,” claiming that all parties — including Qatar and Egypt — are aligned behind the final proposal now being offered to Hamas. The plan, if accepted, would temporarily pause hostilities while the U.S. and its regional allies attempt to negotiate a broader path toward peace.
To be honest, it’s one of those moments that feels more delicate than it sounds. The president’s statement was characteristically forceful — “it will not get better — IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE,” he warned Hamas — but the context is anything but straightforward.
A rare consensus on the Israeli side
The announcement follows months of behind-the-scenes shuttle diplomacy, primarily facilitated by Qatar and Egypt — two countries that have long played mediating roles in past Gaza ceasefires. According to Carnegie Endowment, Egypt has maintained direct communication with both Hamas and the Israeli military, often serving as a quiet conduit for ceasefire arrangements.
What’s different this time, at least according to Trump’s framing, is Israel’s full endorsement of the proposal on the table. Whether this reflects a shift in Israeli war aims or merely a tactical pause isn’t entirely clear. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has faced growing pressure both at home and abroad to reduce the intensity of military operations in densely populated Gaza neighborhoods — especially after reports of mounting civilian casualties and displacement (see UN OCHA updates).
An ultimatum — or an opening?
Trump’s language toward Hamas was, predictably, uncompromising. He framed the ceasefire deal as a “take it or leave it” opportunity, warning that future offers may be less generous — or perhaps nonexistent. It’s hard not to read this as a calculated attempt to corner Hamas publicly, using the weight of international intermediaries to raise the cost of noncompliance.
But this moment also presents a potential opening. A 60-day window — if it holds — could allow for humanitarian relief, renewed talks, and perhaps the de-escalation of a conflict that has consistently defied resolution. As Brookings notes, temporary ceasefires have rarely held unless accompanied by parallel political efforts, including indirect U.S.-Hamas dialogue via third parties.
Where this goes next
What comes next depends largely on Hamas. Trump has cast this as their final best chance. Whether that framing helps or hardens positions remains to be seen. As with so many Gaza ceasefires in the past, the next 48 hours will likely tell us whether this is a pivot point — or just another pause before the next round of violence.
Either way, the stakes are uncomfortably high. And as always in the Middle East, certainty is in short supply.
