❓WHAT HAPPENED: Israel agreed to a ceasefire proposal put forward by President Donald J. Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Trump, Steve Witkoff, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, Hamas, and Gazans.
📍WHEN & WHERE: Announcement made on July 2, during a press briefing in Estonia.
💬KEY QUOTE: “We are serious in our will to reach a hostage deal and a ceasefire.” – Gideon Saar
🎯IMPACT: Potential for a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza, with talks aimed at ending the conflict altogether.
Israel has confirmed its acceptance of a ceasefire proposal by President Donald J. Trump‘s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff. This comes a day after Trump announced that Israel had agreed to the necessary conditions for a ceasefire in Gaza.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, while on a state visit to Estonia, stated, “We are serious in our will to reach a hostage deal and a ceasefire,” confirming Israel’s acceptance of Witkoff’s proposals.
Though details of the proposal were not elaborated upon by Saar, he mentioned the goal of starting proximity talks as soon as possible. Trump, on Truth Social, highlighted a productive meeting with Israelis about Gaza, agreeing to finalize a 60-day ceasefire.
Before Israel’s announcement, Hamas indicated it was considering the ceasefire proposal via mediators Egypt and Qatar.
Trump’s renewed push for peace follows his settlement of the Israel-Iran war, personally averting further Israeli strikes after an agreed ceasefire, and his administration’s orchestration of a peace deal between the Congo and Rwanda in Central Africa.
Image by Palestinian News & Information Agency (Wafa) in contract with APAimages.
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