 "Trump says Israel has agreed to 60-day Gaza ceasefire, urges Hamas to accept deal")
US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday (July 2) that Israel has agreed to the terms of a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza, and he warned Hamas to accept the deal before the situation in the densely populated strip gets worse.
“My representatives had a long and productive meeting with the Israelis today about Gaza. Israel has agreed to the necessary conditions for a 60-day ceasefire, during which we’ll work to end the war,” Trump said. He added that Qatar and Egypt would deliver the final proposal to Hamas.
“I hope, for the good of the Middle East, that Hamas takes this deal, because it won’t get better — it will only get worse,” Trump said.
Trump to meet Netanyahu next Monday
Trump announced this news as he prepares to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House next Monday.
The US has been pushing both Israel and Hamas to agree to a ceasefire and a hostage deal to end the war in Gaza.
On Tuesday, Israel’s Minister for Strategic Affairs, Ron Dermer, was in Washington for meetings with top US officials about a possible Gaza ceasefire, Iran, and other issues. He was expected to meet Vice President J.D. Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and special envoy Steve Witkoff.
Meanwhile, more than 150 international charities and aid groups called for ending a controversial Israeli and US-backed system for distributing aid in Gaza. They say the system has led to chaos and deadly violence against Palestinians trying to get food.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsGroups like Oxfam, Save the Children, and Amnesty International made the statement after at least 10 Palestinians were killed while seeking food, according to witnesses and health officials.
Also on Tuesday, Israeli airstrikes killed at least 37 people in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, according to Nasser Hospital.
“They’re hitting tents with missiles?” asked Um Seif Abu Leda, whose son died in the attack. Mourners laid flowers on the body bags.
Before Trump’s announcement, Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz warned that Israel would respond strongly after a missile was fired from Yemen.
Sirens sounded in parts of Israel as two projectiles were also launched from Gaza. Israeli defence systems intercepted all the missiles.
This was the first attack from Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels since Israel’s 12-day conflict with Iran. Katz warned that Yemen could face consequences similar to Iran.
Nasruddin Amer, a deputy head of the Houthi media office, said on social media that Yemen would keep supporting Gaza until the attacks end and the siege is lifted.
Netanyahu, speaking to his Cabinet, didn’t share details about his upcoming visit to Washington, except to say he would discuss a trade deal.
Iran is also expected to be a key topic in the talks in Washington after Trump helped broker a ceasefire between Iran and Israel.
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