US President Donald Trump has urged Hamas to accept a "final" proposal for a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza brokered by Qatar and Egypt, in the latest effort to stop the bloodshed in the region.
In a statement on social media, Trump said his representatives had held what he described as a productive meeting with senior Israeli officials, and confirmed that Israel had agreed to the terms set to finalize the deal.
He expressed hope that Hamas would accept the proposal for the sake of Middle East stability, stressing that the offer was the best chance available because the situation would only get worse if it was rejected.
Trump is scheduled to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House next week to discuss progress in negotiations and a deal to release hostages in exchange for a ceasefire.
The proposal includes the release of half of the hostages still being held in Gaza, a swap for Palestinian prisoners and the return of Palestinian bodies.
However, Israel's main condition for Hamas to disarm remains a major obstacle, as Hamas insists it will not lay down its arms.
The conflict in Gaza erupted following Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which killed more than 1,200 people and caused 251 individuals to be taken hostage.
The Israeli counterattack that followed reportedly killed more than 56,000 Palestinians and triggered a humanitarian crisis that continues to this day.
However, the main question remains: why was only Hamas ordered to lay down its arms, while similar demands were not imposed on Israel, which is also involved in large-scale attacks in Gaza?
This imbalance raises questions about Trump's credibility as a peace broker when fair negotiations should put pressure on both sides, not just one.
