On February 27, US President Donald Trump stated that there were “pretty good talks going on” regarding the Gaza ceasefire, but offered little detail during a White House press conference. The three-phase ceasefire, which began on January 19, has resulted in the release of 33 Israeli hostages and approximately 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and detainees.
With the initial six-week phase of the ceasefire set to expire in two days, Israel announced it was sending negotiators to Cairo to discuss extending the agreement. When asked about the potential for a second phase, Trump responded, “We’ll see what happens. Nobody really knows, but we’ll see what happens.”
Both Israel and Hamas have accused each other of violating the ceasefire. The United Nations has described images of emaciated Israeli hostages and Palestinian detainees as distressing, highlighting the dire conditions in which they were held.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who joined Trump at the press conference, reiterated his support for a two-state solution, which envisions a Palestinian state alongside Israel in the West Bank and Gaza. Starmer emphasized, “Yes, I believe that the two-state solution is ultimately the only way for a lasting peace in the region.”
Trump’s proposal for a US takeover of Gaza and the permanent displacement of Palestinians has been met with global condemnation, with critics labeling it as a plan for ethnic cleansing. The proposal has sparked widespread outrage and concern.
Since October 2023, Israel’s military assault on Gaza has resulted in the deaths of over 48,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza health ministry. The assault has led to accusations of genocide and war crimes, which Israel denies. The conflict has displaced nearly Gaza’s entire population and caused a severe hunger crisis.
The latest escalation in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas attacked Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking approximately 250 hostages.