Trump Administration Signals Support for Gaza Ceasefire If 60-Day Truce Holds: Axios
The Trump administration signals readiness to guarantee a 60-day Gaza ceasefire if the current truce holds, Axios reports. Talks with Hamas via envoy Steve Witkoff show progress, though disputes over Israeli troop positions remain unresolved.
By Kamaran Aziz
ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) — The Trump administration is prepared to guarantee a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza if the current truce holds, Axios reported on Wednesday, citing a source familiar with the matter. The message was reportedly conveyed to Hamas through Palestinian-American businessman Bashar Bahbah by Steve Witkoff, U.S. Special Envoy for Middle East Affairs and a close ally of President Donald Trump.
The Axios source confirmed that discussions between President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, held on Monday and Tuesday, centered on the Israeli military's redeployment plans in the Gaza Strip.
According to Witkoff, recent negotiations between Israel and Hamas in Doha have resolved the majority of the contentious issues. "We hope to reach an agreement by the end of this week," he stated, noting that three-quarters of the outstanding issues have already been addressed.
A primary point of contention remains Hamas' demand that the Israeli military withdraw to the positions it held prior to the previous ceasefire agreement in March—a condition that Israel has so far refused to accept.
On Tuesday evening, Trump and Netanyahu held a 90-minute meeting to discuss the Gaza ceasefire and a potential prisoner exchange with Hamas. In a parallel development, a Qatari delegation arrived at the White House and engaged in several hours of talks with senior U.S. officials ahead of the Trump-Netanyahu meeting.
The latest round of diplomatic engagements underscores a renewed push by the Trump administration to stabilize the Gaza Strip and facilitate a broader political resolution.
