Washington (TDI): US President Donald Trump said on Friday that it would likely become clear within 24 hours whether Hamas will accept what he described as a “final proposal” for a ceasefire in Gaza.
Speaking to reporters, Trump noted that Israel had already agreed to the terms of a potential 60-day ceasefire, during which broader efforts would be made to bring an end to the ongoing conflict. “We’ll see what happens,” he said. “We’re going to know over the next 24 hours.”
Hamas is reportedly seeking assurances that the latest US-backed proposal will lead to a permanent halt in Israel’s military campaign. Israeli officials, meanwhile, indicated that several key details are still being negotiated.
The conflict, which reignited in October 2023 after a deadly Hamas attack on Israeli territory, has resulted in widespread devastation. Israeli authorities say the attack left 1,200 dead and around 250 hostages taken.
In response, Israel launched a military offensive in Gaza that has, according to Gaza’s health ministry, killed more than 56,000 Palestinians and created a humanitarian disaster, including mass displacement and acute food shortages.
Read More: Hamas Reviews US-Backed Gaza Ceasefire Plan
A brief ceasefire earlier this year collapsed after Israeli airstrikes killed over 400 people on March 18. Trump’s previous proposal for a US-administered Gaza was sharply criticized by international observers, including human rights experts and UN officials, who condemned it as a form of “ethnic cleansing.”
Trump also confirmed that he had recently met with Saudi Arabia’s Defense Minister, Prince Khalid bin Salman, at the White House. He said the meeting included discussions on expanding the Abraham Accords, a series of normalization agreements between Israel and several Arab states brokered during Trump’s first term.
Read More: Trump Pushes for Gaza Ceasefire After Iran-Israel Truce
“I think more countries will be joining the Abraham Accords,” Trump said, noting the shifting dynamics in the region following recent US and Israeli military action against Iran, a key Hamas ally.
Farkhund Yousafzai is an Associate Editor at The Diplomatic Insight.
