In a dramatic development, U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have reportedly reached a preliminary agreement on a framework for a Gaza ceasefire, according to media reports. The agreement allegedly followed a phone call between the two leaders, held after the recent U.S. airstrikes targeting Iranian nuclear sites.
Reports suggest that the Gaza conflict could come to an end within the next two weeks under the proposed deal. Key components of the alleged understanding include:
- The removal of Hamas from the Gaza Strip
- Joint post-conflict administration by the United Arab Emirates and Egypt
- The release of all Israeli hostages held in Gaza
- Voluntary resettlement options for Palestinians wishing to leave Gaza, with potential relocation to third countries
While neither Washington nor Tel Aviv has issued an official confirmation, the reported plan signals a significant shift in regional strategy—particularly with Arab nations like the UAE and Egypt potentially taking central roles in Gaza's future governance.
Experts caution that any such agreement would face considerable implementation challenges, including securing consensus among Palestinians and navigating the broader geopolitical implications in the region.
Trump’s Tensions With Iran and Israel Boil Over Publicly
The ceasefire discussions come in the wake of heightened tensions between Iran and Israel, compounded by U.S. military involvement. On Tuesday, President Trump declared that a ceasefire between Iran and Israel was holding—only minutes after publicly criticizing both nations for violating the truce he had brokered just a day earlier.
Speaking from the White House lawn before departing for a NATO summit in The Hague, the 79-year-old president expressed frustration in unusually blunt terms.
"The two countries have been fighting so long and so hard that they don't know what the hell they're doing," Trump told reporters. He accused both Iran and Israel of breaching the ceasefire, adding, "I'm not happy with them. But I'm really unhappy if Israel is going out this morning."
His remarks came shortly after he posted on Truth Social:
“ISRAEL. DO NOT DROP THOSE BOMBS. IF YOU DO IT IS A MAJOR VIOLATION. BRING YOUR PILOTS HOME, NOW!”
The U.S. president appeared to be trying to rein in Israeli airstrikes in real time, saying, "I've got to get Israel to calm down. As soon as we made the deal, they came out and dropped a load of bombs the likes of which I’ve never seen before."
Ceasefire as Political Leverage
If the ceasefire holds, it could be seen as a political win for Trump following his high-risk decision to authorize U.S. airstrikes on three suspected Iranian nuclear facilities over the weekend. The mission targeted Iran's deeply fortified Fordow complex, among others, with Washington and Tel Aviv accusing Tehran of secretly developing nuclear weapons.
Trump described the U.S. bombing campaign as a success, stating, “I think it’s been completely demolished,” although some U.S. media outlets have questioned whether Iran's nuclear infrastructure was fully dismantled.
In response, Trump lashed out at journalists, calling critical news coverage "fake news" and labeling two networks "scum." On Truth Social, he added:
“IRAN WILL NEVER REBUILD THEIR NUCLEAR FACILITIES!”
The ceasefire plan reportedly involves a phased implementation, beginning with a unilateral halt by Iran at 04:00 GMT Tuesday, followed by a 12-hour delayed response from Israel.
Israel’s offensive against Iran began on June 13. The U.S. joined the effort with its own strikes late Friday into Saturday, marking a dangerous escalation in an already volatile region.