US President Donald Trump urged Hamas on Tuesday to accept a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza, saying that Israel had agreed to finalize such a deal, as its forces also stepped up operations in the Palestinian territory.<\/p>\n
Trump, in a post on social media, said his representatives had met with Israeli officials about the raging conflict, ahead of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Washington next week.<\/p>\n
“Israel has agreed to the necessary conditions to finalize the 60 Day CEASEFIRE, during which time we will work with all parties to end the War,” Trump wrote.<\/p>\n
He said representatives of Qatar and Egypt, mediators in the conflict, would deliver “this final proposal.”<\/p>\n
“I hope, for the good of the Middle East, that Hamas takes this Deal, because it will not get better — IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE,” he added.<\/p>\n
Trump earlier on Tuesday said he would be “very firm” with Netanyahu when they meet on July 7.<\/p>\n
The end of Israel’s 12-day war with Iran — which followed a US bombing mission on Tehran’s nuclear sites — has provided a window of opportunity for a deal, with Trump keen to add another peace agreement to a series of recent deals he has brokered.<\/p>\n
Israel’s campaign meanwhile continued to rage on, with Gaza’s civil defense agency reporting Israeli forces killed at least 26 people on Tuesday.<\/p>\n