Donald Trump Calls for Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Amid Escalating Casualties in Gaza
Former President Donald Trump has urged both Israel and Hamas to negotiate a ceasefire as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza deepens, with Palestinian casualties reportedly reaching 56,500. In a passionate social media post on Sunday, Trump stated, “MAKE THE DEAL IN GAZA. GET THE HOSTAGES BACK!!!”
While Trump’s comments have raised hopes for a potential agreement this week, many Palestinians remain skeptical about the ongoing peace efforts. Abdel Hadi al Hour, a resident of Gaza, expressed his doubts: “Since the beginning of the war, they have been promising us something like this: release the hostages and we will stop the war. They did not stop the war.”
An eight-week ceasefire was established during the final days of Joe Biden’s presidency, but Israel resumed military operations in March, seeking new terms from Hamas. Recent Israeli airstrikes have continued to inflict heavy casualties. On Sunday, at least 15 individuals, including women and children, lost their lives when an IDF airstrike struck a home in Jabaliya al-Nazla, which was sheltering displaced families.
The situation remains dire, as Israeli military forces have ordered mass evacuations in northern Gaza, displacing hundreds of thousands of residents who had returned during the earlier ceasefire.
During a visit to Israel’s internal security service, Shin Bet, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized the need to address both the hostage situation and the ongoing conflict, stating, "First of all, to rescue the hostages. Of course, we will also have to solve the Gaza issue, to defeat Hamas, but I estimate that we will achieve both tasks."
The conflict, which has persisted for over 20 months, ignited following Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in the deaths of 1,200 people and the abduction of approximately 250 hostages.
Talks between Israel and Hamas have stalled, with disagreements over the terms of a ceasefire. Hamas official Mahmoud Merdawi accused Netanyahu of delaying progress, insisting that the Israeli leader is only offering a temporary agreement that would release a mere 10 hostages. In response, Omer Dostri, a spokesperson for Netanyahu, stated that "Hamas was the only obstacle to ending the war," without addressing Merdawi’s claims.
According to the Gaza health ministry, the death toll continues to rise, with reports indicating that over half of the casualties are women and children. The Hamas-run authority does not differentiate between civilians and combatants in its reports.
In a bid for resolution, Hamas has stated its willingness to release all hostages in exchange for a complete withdrawal of Israeli troops and an end to the conflict. However, Israel has firmly rejected this offer, insisting that Hamas must surrender, disarm, and agree to exile—conditions that the group has refused to accept.
As the situation evolves, the international community watches closely, hoping for a pathway to peace that prioritizes the protection of innocent lives in Gaza.
