US President Donald Trump announced on Friday that a decision from the Palestinian militant group Hamas on his "final proposal" for a Gaza ceasefire is expected within 24 hours. This follows Israel's earlier agreement to terms for a 60-day truce.

This proposal aims to halt the conflict which began in October 2023. That initial Hamas attack resulted in 1,200 Israeli deaths and approximately 250 hostages taken, as Israeli tallies show.

Since then, Gaza's health ministry reports over 56,000 Palestinian fatalities due to Israel's military assault. The conflict has also triggered a severe hunger crisis, displacing Gaza's entire population.

Trump also discussed expanding the Abraham Accords with Saudi Arabia. This initiative, established during his first term, normalized ties between Israel and several Gulf nations.

His meeting with Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman preceded Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's upcoming visit to Washington next week.

The ongoing Gaza situation highlights the urgent need for a lasting resolution, with international attention focused on Hamas's impending decision and the broader regional peace efforts.

Source: https://www.arabnews.com/node/2606854/middle-east