Trump, Netanyahu discuss Gaza ceasefire

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has spoken with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss the Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal.

According to Axios, the motive behind the former US president’s call to Israeli premier was to convince him in taking the deal.

The Trump office didn’t respond to comment on the development immediately.

Last month, Netanyahu met President Joe Biden, Vice President and Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris and Republican former President Trump during his visit to the US.

A new round of Gaza ceasefire negotiations will resume on today (Thursday). Egypt, the United States and Qatar are playing mediators in bring the both Hamas and Israel to the table. However, Hamas refused to take part in the new round of talks.

Biden laid out a three-phase ceasefire proposal in an address on May 31.

Washington, Israel’s most important ally, has said that a ceasefire in Gaza will reduce the rising threat of a wider war in the Middle East.

The recent killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh has increased the risk of wider war in the middle east as well as drew threats of retaliation against Israel.

Nearly 40,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war broke out last October, according to the local health ministry, while also displacing nearly the entire population of 2.3 million, causing a hunger crisis and leading to genocide allegations at the World Court that Israel denies.