July 4, 2025: U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday that it would likely be known within 24 hours whether Palestinian militant group Hamas has agreed to a U.S.-backed “final proposal” for a ceasefire in Gaza, marking a potential turning point in the ongoing conflict.
Trump, who has been actively involved in mediation efforts, revealed that Israel had already accepted the terms for a 60-day ceasefire aimed at halting hostilities and providing a window for negotiations toward lasting peace. “We’ll see what happens, we are going to know over the next 24 hours,” Trump said when asked if Hamas had agreed to the deal framework.
A source close to Hamas indicated the group seeks guarantees that the ceasefire would lead to a permanent end to the conflict. Israeli officials confirmed that some details remain under negotiation.
The latest violence stems from Hamas’s October 2023 attack on Israel, which killed approximately 1,200 Israelis and led to hundreds of hostages being taken. Since then, Gaza has endured devastating Israeli military strikes, with Gaza’s health ministry reporting over 56,000 Palestinian deaths, widespread displacement, and a severe humanitarian crisis. Israel denies allegations of genocide and war crimes leveled at international courts.
Abraham Accords Expansion Discussed with Saudi Arabia
In a related development, Trump said he had spoken with Saudi Arabia about expanding the Abraham Accords — the landmark normalization agreements between Israel and several Gulf states brokered during his presidency. He expressed optimism about more countries joining the accords, citing recent strikes that weakened Iran’s influence in the region.
Trump’s comments came after a meeting with Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman at the White House. The Saudi official reportedly contacted Iran’s military chief following the meeting, underscoring the tense regional dynamics.
International Context and Next Steps
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to visit Washington next week, where further discussions on the conflict and regional peace efforts are expected.
A prior two-month ceasefire collapsed in March after Israeli strikes killed more than 400 Palestinians. Earlier this year, Trump’s controversial proposal for U.S. administration of Gaza drew widespread condemnation from rights groups and international bodies, who described it as tantamount to ethnic cleansing.
As the world watches closely, the coming days will be critical in determining whether the ceasefire can hold and pave the way for a long-term resolution to one of the most protracted conflicts in modern history.