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U.S. President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that Israel has “agreed to the necessary terms” for a 60-day ceasefire with Hamas in Gaza, as part of efforts to end the ongoing war. He called on the Palestinian movement to accept this “final proposal,” which is currently being finalized by Egypt and Qatar.

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In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump stated that following a “lengthy and productive” meeting between American and Israeli officials in Washington, “Israel agreed to the conditions for a 60-day ceasefire. During this time, we will work with all parties to end the war.” He added, “The Qataris and Egyptians, who have worked tirelessly for peace, will deliver this final proposal.”

The U.S. president continued, “I hope, for the sake of the Middle East, that Hamas accepts this deal, because it won’t get any better — only worse.”

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In response, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar wrote Wednesday on X that the opportunity to reach a deal to free hostages held in Gaza “must not be missed.” He noted, “The vast majority of the public and the government support an agreement that would lead to the release of the hostages. Such a chance should not be squandered.”

Meanwhile, Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer held talks in Washington on Tuesday with senior White House officials.

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These discussions coincided with the Israeli military’s announcement of expanded operations in Gaza. Civil defense authorities reported that at least 26 people were killed, nearly half of them while waiting for food aid.

The Israeli army said it is “working to dismantle Hamas’ military capabilities.” In a separate statement Tuesday morning, the army announced that it had “expanded its operations into additional areas of the Gaza Strip in recent days, eliminated dozens of fighters, and dismantled hundreds of terrorist infrastructure sites both above and below ground.”

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Rafat Hellas, 39, from the Shujaiya neighborhood in Gaza City, said, “The bombings and airstrikes have doubled over the past week,” noting that tanks “continue to advance.” Amer Daloul, 44, also from Gaza City, reported intensified fighting. He told AFP that he and his family were forced to flee early Tuesday because “gunfire reached our tent — we could’ve been killed at any moment.”

In Rafah, in the south, Mohammed Abdel Aal, 41, said, “Tanks are deployed across most of Rafah. No one can reach large parts of the city, especially the east, because the army shoots instantly.”

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Gaza Civil Defense spokesman Mahmoud Basal reported that at least 16 people were killed by Israeli fire while waiting for food aid, and that 10 more civilians were killed in airstrikes across the territory.

The army stated that its troops “fired warning shots to disperse suspects who approached the forces,” saying it was unaware of any casualties but would investigate the incident.

Due to Israel’s restrictions on media access in Gaza and the difficulty of reaching affected areas, AFP was unable to independently verify the various reports.

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On Monday, a group of 169 humanitarian organizations demanded a halt to aid distribution via the U.S. and Israel-backed “Humanitarian Gaza Foundation” due to near-daily reports of Palestinians being killed near its distribution centers since its operations began in late May.

The organizations called for a return to the UN-led aid mechanism, which operated until March, when Israel tightened its blockade. Minimal aid was allowed in nearly two months later, distributed by the new foundation — which international NGOs have refused to cooperate with.

The foundation has denied responsibility for the deaths near distribution points, contradicting eyewitness accounts and civil defense reports.

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The International Committee of the Red Cross expressed “deep concern” over the expanding Israeli military operations, noting that the few remaining medical facilities are unable to treat the growing number of wounded.

In a statement, the ICRC said it was “deeply concerned about the escalation of hostilities in Gaza City and Jabalia (north), which have killed and injured dozens of civilians in the past 36 hours.”

Meanwhile, the Israeli army confirmed on Tuesday that the airstrike carried out by its fighter jets on Monday — targeting a rest area and internet café and said to have aimed at “a number of Hamas terrorists” — is currently under review.

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On Monday, the Civil Defense reported that an Israeli airstrike killed 24 people and injured dozens more in a crowded rest area on the beach in Gaza City.

Politically, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is preparing for a visit to Washington to meet with Donald Trump and other officials, after declaring that the war with Iran had created “opportunities” to secure the release of hostages.

A senior U.S. administration official said Monday that Netanyahu will visit the White House on July 7.

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On Tuesday, Trump stated that he would be “very firm” with Netanyahu regarding the need for a ceasefire, noting that “he Netanyahu wants it too.”

Pressure has been mounting on the Israeli prime minister to end the war in Gaza, especially after he declared “victory” over the Islamic Republic following a 12-day conflict.

Opening a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Netanyahu said, “Capitalizing on success is no less important than achieving it.”

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For his part, Hamas official Taher Al-Nounou said the movement is “serious and ready to reach a ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement.” He added that the negotiators “are prepared to accept any proposal that leads to ending the war — that is, a permanent ceasefire and the complete withdrawal of occupation forces from the Gaza Strip.” He emphasized, however, that “no breakthrough has yet been achieved.”

The Gaza war erupted after a surprise Hamas attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which killed 1,219 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures.

In response, Israel imposed a tight siege on the Gaza Strip and launched a devastating war that has killed 56,647 people, the majority of them civilians, according to the latest figures from the Hamas-run Ministry of Health — a source considered reliable by the United Nations.

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