U.S. President Donald Trump declared that Israel has “agreed to the necessary conditions to finalize” a 60‑day ceasefire in Gaza, as part of a U.S.-mediated initiative—with Qatar and Egypt poised to deliver the final terms to Hamas.

Trump framed the proposal as Hamas’s “last chance,” warning that “it will only get worse” for Palestinians if rejected.

Since October 7, 2023, more than 56,000 Palestinians—many of them women and children—have been killed in Israeli bombardments, while nearly all public hospitals in Gaza have been rendered inoperative.

Aid convoys at U.S.–Israeli-backed distribution sites have become lethal ambush zones, with over 500 civilians, including children, shot dead near food lines.

Humanitarian organizations such as Red Cross, Oxfam, Doctors Without Borders, Save the Children, Amnesty International, and many more have demanded the dismantling of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, citing the “impossible choice: starve or risk being shot”.

Trump’s announcement arrives ahead of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s scheduled Washington visit on July 7, his third since Trump returned to office.

Trump’s tone reflects growing frustration with Netanyahu’s resistance to meaningful ceasefire terms. At the same time, Washington continues to provide Israel with substantial military aid, vetoing UN ceasefire resolutions—even as humanitarian conditions in Gaza spiral toward catastrophe.

Despite Israel’s verbal agreement, exact details remain vague. Israel demands the total disarmament and dismantling of Hamas; Hamas insists on a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza

Now, mediators from Qatar and Egypt must convince Hamas to accept the “final proposal,” which includes hostage releases in exchange for an extended truce.

Gaza’s battered population faces a grim reality: no essential services, constant bombardment, food scarcity, and death. Even if this ceasefire holds, it risks becoming just another temporary reprieve—without addressing Israel’s occupation, destruction of infrastructure, or fundamental Palestinian rights. Meanwhile, not accepting —or even waiting —may only prolong suffering amid a population already driven to desperation. (ILKHA)