Ministers from Israel’s Likud party, including Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana, have called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to annex the occupied West Bank before the Knesset recess at the end of July. The petition, signed by 15 ministers, comes ahead of Netanyahu’s meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, where talks are expected to focus on a potential 60-day ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. This ceasefire is part of an agreement that includes the release of remaining hostages held by the Palestinian militant group Hamas. Most countries consider Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank illegal.
Meanwhile, Hamas has officially submitted a positive response to the U.S.-mediated ceasefire proposal in Gaza. The proposal envisions a 60-day truce, with U.S. President Trump guaranteeing Israel’s commitment to the ceasefire. Under the agreement, Hamas would release ten live hostages and return the bodies of 18 deceased. Hamas is ready to immediately begin negotiations on implementing the ceasefire, confirmed through internal consultations with other Palestinian factions.
However, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has yet to comment on the proposal, while Hamas continues to insist on complete disarmament. Meanwhile, Israeli attacks in Gaza have continued to cause casualties, with at least several Palestinian civilians killed in the last 24 hours. President Trump has announced he will be very tough on Netanyahu regarding the need to urgently reach a ceasefire agreement, with a meeting between the two leaders scheduled in Washington.
This situation raises many questions about the future of peace in the Middle East, as conflicts persist and the international community watches developments closely.
