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JUST IN: Trump Announces Ceasefire Between Israel, Hamas

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President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that he had helped to negotiate a 60-day ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, though Hamas has yet to agree to the final framework,

The announcement came just days before Trump is set to host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House on Monday for crucial talks aimed at ending the conflict that has raged for almost two years.

“My Representatives had a long and productive meeting with the Israelis today on Gaza,” Trump said in a statement. “Israel has agreed to the necessary conditions to finalize the 60 Day CEASEFIRE, during which time we will work with all parties to end the War.” The president added that Egypt and Qatar will be helping with mediating a final agreement with Hamas.

Trump urged the terrorist group to accept the deal, warning that the situation in Gaza will deteriorate rapidly if they do not. “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.”

The Trump Administration has continued to focus on diplomatic measures in the Middle East after the president helped to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Iran following 12 days of conflict, which saw the elimination of numerous Iranian military leaders and nuclear scientists, as well as U.S.-led strikes on Iranian nuclear sites.

Israeli Minister for Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer travelled to Washington Tuesday to meet with senior administration officials, including Vice President J.D., Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and special envoy Steve Witkoff, to discuss the potential ceasefire, regional threats, and Iran.

Prior attempts at establishing a ceasefire have fizzled out. In late May, Witkoff proposed a 60-day ceasefire that would have required Hamas to release 10 living hostages taken from Israel who were taken during the October 7 attacks, as well as the remains of another 18 dead hostages. In exchange, Israel would have released 125 “life sentence” prisoners, 1,111 Palestinian detainees and 180 deceased Palestinians.

Israel agreed to the proposal, though Hamas said it responded with “notes and amendments.” Witkoff called Hamas’ response “totally unacceptable.”

As of June 2025, estimates suggest around 20 to 25 hostages are still believed to be alive in Gaza out of the 50 remaining captives taken during the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023. The Israeli military and government sources indicate that 251 people were initially abducted, with over half released or rescued, and at least 75 confirmed dead.