Israel has accepted a ceasefire framework proposed by US President Donald Trump, aiming to end the ongoing conflict, Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar announced on Monday. Speaking at a joint press conference with his Hungarian counterpart in Budapest, Saar said a “full deal” would proceed only if it secured the release of all hostages and a commitment from Hamas to lay down its arms.
The announcement followed stern warnings from Israeli authorities. Defence Minister Israel Katz threatened massive retaliatory strikes on Gaza, describing them as a “mighty hurricane” should Hamas fail to release hostages or surrender weapons.
Hamas, meanwhile, indicated willingness to negotiate. The group stated it was ready to “immediately sit at the negotiating table” following Trump’s proposal, but set conditions including a clear declaration to end the war, a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and the establishment of an independent Palestinian committee to govern the territory. Hamas confirmed it had received “ideas” from the US aimed at a ceasefire and was in ongoing talks with mediators to transform these ideas into a comprehensive agreement aligned with its demands.
US President Trump issued a public warning to Hamas, asserting on Truth Social that Israel had already accepted his ceasefire and hostage release terms. He called on Hamas to comply, emphasizing that this was his “last warning” and signaling consequences for noncompliance.
While Israeli leaders have expressed openness to a ceasefire throughout the 23-month conflict, military operations on the ground have continued, reflecting the tense and complex nature of negotiations even as diplomatic channels are pursued.
