Trump urges Hamas to accept ‘final' 60-day Gaza ceasefire after Israel agrees, warns ‘it will only get worse'
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US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said Israel had agreed to final terms for a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza. He urged Hamas to accept the deal quickly.'My Representatives had a long and productive meeting with the Israelis today on Gaza. 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 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. Thank you for your attention to this matter!' Trump wrote on Truth Social.This announcement landed days before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to the White House on Monday.Trump wants an agreement that frees hostages. He told reporters in Florida he would be 'very firm' with Netanyahu about moving fast.'We hope it's going to happen. And we're looking forward to it happening sometime next week. We want to get the hostages out,' Trump said.Hamas says it will free hostages if Israel pulls back and ends the war. Israel says that won't happen until Hamas disarms and dismantles. So far, both sides refuse to budge.While leaders talk, bombs keep falling. Israeli airstrikes on Monday hit eastern Gaza City after evacuation warnings. Al Jazeera said at least 68 Palestinians died on Sunday alone.In southern Gaza's Khan Younis, strikes killed 37 people. Amid the rubble, Um Seif Abu Leda cried, 'Tents, tents they are hitting with two missiles?' Her son's body was one among many laid out under flowers.Gaza's Health Ministry says more than 56,500 Palestinians have died since October's attack. Israel puts its own October 7 toll at over 1,100 dead with around 200 hostages taken.Trump's aides believe the group is weaker now. Iran, Hamas' main backer, was hit hard by Israeli and US strikes last month. Trump wants to use that momentum to close a deal.But his 'final offer' may find little trust among Hamas leaders. Past pauses fell apart over the same hurdle: Should fighting end fully or only pause?As food runs short, more violence erupts around aid centres. On Tuesday, over 150 charities, including Oxfam and Amnesty International, urged Israel and the US to scrap the chaotic aid system blamed for deadly clashes. At least 10 Palestinians seeking food died near aid sites this week.Hunger is only deepening Gaza's crisis. The International Court of Justice is hearing genocide claims against Israel. War crimes allegations are also before the International Criminal Court . Israel rejects both.The fighting is spilling wider. Sirens sounded across parts of Israel this week when two missiles were fired from Gaza and a separate strike came from Yemen. All were intercepted.Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz warned Yemen's Houthi rebels could face Tehran's fate if attacks continue. The Houthis' Nasruddin Amer said Yemen 'will not stop its support for Gaza … unless the aggression stops and the siege on Gaza is lifted.'Netanyahu told his Cabinet he will talk trade and Iran during his Washington visit. The hope is that Trump's push for a Gaza truce will stick this time.Whether Hamas agrees remains to be seen. For now, the skies above Gaza roar on.
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