Trump Urges Israel and Hamas to Negotiate End to Gaza Conflict

News Summary, 30th June 2025: Updates on an incident in Idaho, ongoing U.S.-Canada trade negotiations, and more international updates. Following the settlement of a delicate ceasefire between Israel and Iran, former President Donald Trump is now urging Israel and Hamas to negotiate a deal that would terminate the ongoing war in Gaza. This brutal conflict, which has been running for 20 months, has resulted in over 50,000 Palestinian deaths and more than a thousand Israeli fatalities.

While addressing the press on Friday, Trump seemed hopeful that an accord could be struck within a week. According to him, Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, is currently engaged in the negotiation process with Hamas, with the key aim of securing the release of hostages. However, Netanyahu’s ongoing court hearing in Israel has been deferred after his request, citing confidential diplomatic and security grounds.

These updates come following an inside scoop by an Israeli official to the Associated Press, indicating that Ron Dermer, one of Netanyahu’s key aides, has a planned visit to Washington for ceasefire discussions. Besides, it has been reported that the Israeli Premier held an evening meeting with his Security Cabinet on Sunday. Plans are underway for Netanyahu to make a trip to Washington in the weeks to come.

Also noteworthy is Trump’s shift of attention towards the Gaza conflict, following an unstable ceasefire agreement between Iran and Israel on June 23. This truce brought a close to the brief but intense conflict informally referred to as the ’12 Day War’, which was initiated by an Israeli assault on Iran’s nuclear facilities. Responding to the recent developments, Hamas has indicated its willingness to renew negotiations, yet insisting on the cessation of the war and a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza as preconditions for any deal.

Despite the ceasefire talks, the severity of the conflict in Gaza continues to increase. Israel has intensified its military attacks on Gaza, going to the extent of ordering a broad evacuation campaign for Palestinians living in the northern parts of Gaza. Over hundreds of thousands of residents in eastern and northern-most areas of Gaza City, and the Jabaliya refugee camp have had to suddenly abandon their homes due to the ongoing warfare.

The past two years have seen the Palestinian residents of Gaza routinely disrupted as continuous conflict pushes them out of their homes. Yet again, on Sunday, civilians in Gaza City had to hastily gather their children and essential belongings onto donkey carts in order to escape imminent military strikes. An airstrike in Khan Younis, close to the presumed safe area of Mawasi, led to the death of at least five individuals during the weekend.

Talking about the displacement crisis in Gaza, U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres made a strong statement on Friday. ‘Families are constantly on the move, now confined to less than 20% of Gaza’s land. Sadly, these decreasing safe spaces are also under threat – bombs fall on residential tents, families, and even those who have no final destination to reach.’, he stated.

Despite the anticipation tied to President Trump’s announcement, doubts about a peaceful resolution remain. Reportedly, an agreement proposed by Hamas involves the release of all hostages commensurate with the end of the war and total withdrawal of Israeli soldiers from Gaza. In contrast, Netanyahu is advocating for a temporary agreement that frees only a portion of the hostages (approximately 10). Additionally, Israel has stated that the permanent end of the war would only be possible upon the total dismantlement and removal of Hamas.

Former President Trump keeps insisting on a ceasefire in Gaza, while he also proposed the idea of U.S. intervention, transforming the territory into a ‘zone of freedom’. He has also implied that Jordan and Egypt could accept Palestinian refugees as a solution to ‘clean out’ the Gaza Strip. Yet, even if an agreement is reached, its durability is highly uncertain.

Earlier, in January, as Trump was starting his term, Israel and Hamas agreed to a procedure for a phased ceasefire. However, this pact was broken with a sudden artillery strike on Gaza instigated by Israel, and the announcement of the war reboot. Since that point, there has been growing pressure on Netanyahu to concede to a ceasefire.

Over the weekend, People advocating for Palestinian rights were seen protesting globally, demanding an immediate end to the hostilities. The U.N. has ratified a resolution that requires an immediate, unconditional, and lasting ceasefire. Civil unrest has also resumed in Israel following a brief hiatus during the Israel-Iran skirmish, with demonstrators insisting on a deal that would liberate the remaining hostages in Gaza.

During Sunday’s security meeting, Netanyahu, reflecting upon Israel’s ‘victory’ in Iran, proclaimed that ‘many opportunities have opened up’. However, the Gaza situation remains mired in violence and political complications. The world awaits nervously to see how peace negotiations will unfold in the coming weeks.