Washington D.C, President Donald Trump hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House for a dinner focused on brokering an end to the devastating Gaza war. The high-stakes meeting occurred as Israel and Hamas simultaneously engaged in a second day of indirect ceasefire talks in Qatar.
President Trump expressed optimism regarding a potential peace deal, telling reporters, “I don’t think there is a hold up. I think things are going along very well.” He also voiced confidence in Hamas’s willingness to end the conflict, now in its 22nd month, stating, “They want to meet and they want to have that ceasefire.” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt affirmed that the president’s “utmost priority right now in the Middle East is to end the war in Gaza and to return all of the hostages.”
During the meeting, Prime Minister Netanyahu nominated President Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, presenting him with a letter sent to the prize committee. Netanyahu praised Trump’s efforts, saying, “He’s forging peace as we speak, in one country, in one region after the other.”
Despite the push for a ceasefire, Netanyahu remained firm on his stance regarding a full Palestinian state, ruling it out and asserting that Israel would “always” maintain security control over the Gaza Strip. “Now, people will say it’s not a complete state, it’s not a state. We don’t care,” Netanyahu stated.
Trump hosts Netanyahu in push for Gaza deal, The meeting in Washington coincided with ongoing, indirect ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas in Doha, Qatar. These talks, which began on Sunday, concluded Monday with “no breakthrough,” according to a Palestinian official. Both delegations were expected to resume discussions. US special envoy Steve Witkoff is scheduled to join the Doha talks later this week to help facilitate an agreement.
The proposed US-brokered deal includes a 60-day truce, during which Hamas would release 10 living hostages and several bodies in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. Hamas has also demanded conditions for Israel’s withdrawal, guarantees against renewed fighting, and the return of the UN-led aid distribution system.
The conflict, triggered by Hamas’s October 2023 attack that killed 1,219 people, has led to a dire humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip. Israel’s retaliatory campaign has resulted in at least 57,523 deaths in Gaza, predominantly civilians, according to the Hamas-run health ministry, figures which the UN considers reliable. Of the 251 hostages taken by Palestinian militants, 49 are still held in Gaza, with 27 confirmed dead by the Israeli military. On Monday, the civil defence agency in Gaza reported that Israeli forces killed at least 12 people, including six in a clinic housing displaced individual.
The recent White House meeting between President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu emphasis the persistent and complex challenges inherent in achieving a lasting resolution to the conflict in Gaza. While President Trump projects an air of confidence, citing momentum from the recent truce between Israel and Iran and expressing belief in Hamas’s willingness for a ceasefire, the reality on the ground remains fraught with obstacles. Netanyahu’s unwavering stance against a full Palestinian state, insisting on perpetual Israeli security control over Gaza, directly clashes with fundamental Palestinian aspirations and international calls for a two-state solution. This deep ideological chasm makes any “day-after” scenario for Gaza incredibly difficult to envision, let alone implement.
Moreover, the ongoing indirect talks in Qatar, despite being mediated by the US, continue to grapple with fundamental disagreements. Hamas, while giving a “positive” response to the latest ceasefire proposal, consistently demands guarantees for a complete end to the war and a full Israeli withdrawal, conditions that Netanyahu has publicly rejected unless Hamas is entirely dismantled. The tragic human cost of the conflict, with tens of thousands of lives lost and Gaza facing a dire humanitarian catastrophe, adds immense pressure to these negotiations. However, the deep-seated mistrust, coupled with the political complexities within both Israeli and Palestinian leaderships, means that even a temporary truce may not translate into enduring peace. The international community, while largely supportive of a ceasefire and humanitarian aid, faces the difficult task of bridging these intractable divides. The meeting between Trump and Netanyahu, while a significant diplomatic event, ultimately highlights that the path to peace in Gaza remains elusive, requiring profound concessions and a long-term vision that, as yet, remains out of reach for all parties involved.