 "Is Trump about to share a plan for Gaza ceasefire? Here's what his top aide says")
The Trump administration is preparing to finalise a new written agreement that could lay the groundwork for a potential ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, a senior aide said. This deal could come as early as Wednesday.
“We are on the precipice of sending out a new term sheet that hopefully will be delivered later on today,” said Steve Witkoff, US President Donald Trump’s special envoy. “The president is going to review it. And I have some very good feelings about getting to a long-term resolution, temporary ceasefire and a long-term resolution, a peaceful resolution, of that conflict.”
Witkoff made the remarks during a briefing at the White House, standing alongside Trump.
Trump said his administration is also working to speed up humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza.
“We’re dealing with the whole situation in Gaza. We’re getting food to the people of Gaza. It’s been a very nasty situation,” Trump told reporters.
Growing pressure on Israel
European countries have generally said explicitly that Israel has the right to defend itself. But there has been increasing shock at the scale of the destruction in Gaza, the deadliest episode in decades of conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.
On Wednesday (May 28), Italy joined a growing list of European countries that have traditionally held back from criticising Israel in demanding an end to the war, after Germany stepped up its language against the Israeli campaign earlier in the week.
Similar criticisms had come in from France, Britain and Canada earlier.
Netanyahu unflinching in face of criticism
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government hit back at growing international pressure over the war in Gaza.
Netanyahu said last week that criticisms from France, Britain and Canada were “emboldening” Hamas and said the leaders of the three countries were “on the wrong side of history”.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsNetanyahu has drawn direct links between criticism coming from Europe and a surge in incidents of antisemitism which he said was part of a war of “civilisation against barbarism” unleashed by the war in Gaza.
 "Russian drones over Poland: Trump’s tepid reaction a wake-up call for Nato?")
 "As Russia pushes east, Ukraine faces mounting pressure to defend its heartland")
 "Why Mossad was not on board with Israel’s strike on Hamas in Qatar")
 "Turkey: Erdogan's police arrest opposition mayor Hasan Mutlu, dozens officials in corruption probe")
 "Russian drones over Poland: Trump’s tepid reaction a wake-up call for Nato?")
 "As Russia pushes east, Ukraine faces mounting pressure to defend its heartland")
 "Why Mossad was not on board with Israel’s strike on Hamas in Qatar")
 "Turkey: Erdogan's police arrest opposition mayor Hasan Mutlu, dozens officials in corruption probe")
