Trump Makes 'Last' Push for Gaza Deal—But Will He Push Bibi Enough?

July 2—President Donald Trump said last night that Israel has accepted a newly tweaked version of his Special Envoy Steve Witkoff's plan to end Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin "Bibi" Netanyahu's bloody slaughter of Palestinians in Gaza and urged Hamas to do likewise. The new version calls for an immediate 60-day ceasefire, which would see the release of 10 living hostages and 15 deceased ones in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel and the opening of Gaza's borders to allow the free flow and distribution of humanitarian aid to its starving and diseased population.

Hamas said today that it is having internal discussions regarding the U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal it received from the negotiation mediators.

"We are holding discussions to reach an agreement that will ensure the end of aggressions, the withdrawal of [Israeli] forces and granting aid to the people of the [Gaza] Strip," the organization's statement said.

Earlier today, it was reported that a Hamas delegation is expected to meet with Egyptian and Qatari mediators in Cairo to discuss the U.S.-backed ceasefire and hostage deal proposal announced earlier that day by Trump, according to an Egyptian official, Haaretz reported.

Deal’s Fragility and Trump’s Leverage

Sources close to the White House report that Bibi's confidant and Strategic Minister Ron Dermer, in Washington for talks with Trump’s team in preparation for Netanyahu's five-day visit next week, accepted the proposal as presented by Witkoff. That acceptance prompted Trump’s public statement and social media posts telling Hamas this was the best offer they were going to get.

"My Representatives had a long and productive meeting with the Israelis today on Gaza. Israel has agreed to the necessary conditions to finalize the 60 Day CEASEFIRE, during which time we will work with all parties to end the War. The Qataris and Egyptians, who have worked very hard to help bring Peace, will deliver this final proposal. I hope, for the good of the Middle East, that Hamas takes this Deal, because it will not get better – IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE," Trump added. "Thank you for your attention to this matter!"

"That's true," said a source. "But I am told that this is the last offer coming from the United States. That if no progress is made towards a deal, the U.S. will step back from a mediating role and the slaughter will continue. Despite that threat, Hamas may reject this proposal because it lacks a clear commitment from the Israelis that they will not restart the war if no deal is reached in 60 days. Witkoff tried to address their fears by telling Hamas, through the Qataris, that he personally and President Trump will make sure that this does not happen and that Israel negotiates in good faith to end the war. He reportedly shared with them that Bibi personally promised Trump that he would end the war, because he believes that he must stand for re-election and needs the hostages returned alive."

Hamas Leadership Pressured Amid Weakened Support

But this and other sources say the Hamas leadership—which now realizes it has no real backing from a war-ravaged Iran seeking its own deal with Trump following the "12 Day War"—understands that one of the terms of the deal is the end of Hamas's presence and its fighters in postwar Gaza. The sources say that some in Hamas do not accept that, "but the handwriting is on the wall for Hamas, and really has been since they undertook their savage and deadly raid on Israel Oct. 7, 2023. They do not trust this beast Netanyahu, who has called for their extermination, but they have no choice but to accept Witkoff's plan, because it keeps Trump engaged in this and he holds the cards on Bibi."

Another source with extensive contacts in the region reported that Bibi is being backed into a corner. "He can hardly propose continuing the war, when the Israel Defense Force (IDF) chief Zamir says that all objectives about destroying Hamas’s ability to fight have been achieved and that continued IDF operations in Gaza put the lives of the 20 hostages thought to be alive at risk." Zamir made these remarks to a cabinet meeting this week.

Ceasefire Proposal Details and Israeli Flexibility

An Israeli source who spoke with Haaretz said that according to the updated proposal—to which Dermer gave a positive response—Israel showed flexibility toward Hamas on several points. Israel compromised on issues concerning the depth of its withdrawal during the ceasefire, though according to the proposal, the army will not withdraw beyond the point it reached during the previous ceasefire; a withdrawal from the Philadelphi Corridor, along Gaza's southern border, is not on the table.

The source also said Israel has agreed to be more flexible regarding the distribution of humanitarian aid. According to him, the proposal does not provide details about the distribution mechanism. However, it was agreed that the relevant clauses would mirror those in the previous ceasefire deal, which allowed for aid to be distributed through the United Nations and Red Crescent, among other organizations.

While the proposal does not include an explicit promise that Israel intends to end the war, it contains strong guarantees that place Trump effectively at the center of enforcement.

"It's not just the wording – it's also the overall atmosphere that allows Hamas to see how much the Americans want and are able to bring Israel to that point," Haaretz was told.

Doubts Over Bibi’s Intentions and Political Stakes

Still, there is speculation that Bibi continues to play Trump for a sucker, intending to block the final deal, restart the war, and blame hostage deaths on Hamas.

"As has happened before, Netanyahu may be seeking to put on a show for the Americans. He'll demonstrate a willingness to seal a deal even as he signals to Hamas that his demands remain unyielding, with the goal of laying the blame for failure on the enemy. For Hamas, the most critical demand is ending the war, which means it wants American guarantees in the event that Israel once again tries to blow up the deal at later stages. Netanyahu is apparently debating his options. He knows a long-term ceasefire would endanger his alliance with the two far-right parties that are keeping his governing coalition alive." So writes respected analyst Amos Harel in Haaretz today, reflecting the thinking of many.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir announced this morning that he reached out to Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich to discuss joining forces to thwart the ceasefire deal. Following that, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar said there is a "large majority" both in the cabinet and among the Israeli public for a hostage deal, adding that "if the opportunity comes, it must not be missed."

So far, Trump has used the carrot to cajole Bibi into striking a deal—first in bargaining around U.S. involvement in the Iran war, whose full consequences for Trump and the U.S. have yet to play out. Now, Trump is reportedly offering Bibi "diplomatic compensation," which would expand the Abraham Accords and secure recognition of Israel by Saudi Arabia and the Gulf States.

But the critical question is what Trump—the most politically cagey of recent Presidents—will do if Bibi tries to back out after the ceasefire ends. "That's when push comes to shove, so to speak," said a source. Would he risk the blowback from the Zionist lobby and its raft of radical Bibi supporters in the Senate, even in his own party? He did not have the guts to do it on Iran. Witkoff has told Hamas that the President is "all in" on this. It would be better for him to make that clear to Bibi now—when they meet next week.