Trump and Netanyahu meet as Gaza ceasefire talks intensify

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to meet with US President Donald Trump on Monday, amid ongoing efforts to negotiate a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Trump has expressed optimism, suggesting a potential breakthrough this week that could lead to the release of hostages held in Gaza.

Indirect negotiations in Doha

Talks between Israel and Hamas began Sunday evening in Doha, focusing on brokering a ceasefire and securing a deal to exchange Palestinian prisoners for hostages held in Gaza. Netanyahu, en route to Washington, emphasized that his meeting with Trump could advance these negotiations.

The US president, pushing for a truce to address Gaza's severe humanitarian crisis, said Sunday there was a "good chance" of progress. “We’ve already managed to secure the release of many hostages, and I believe more will be freed soon,” Trump told reporters.

Netanyahu confirmed that his delegation in Doha has been instructed to pursue an agreement based on pre-established conditions. However, he rejected Hamas’s response to a US-backed ceasefire proposal, describing their demands as “unacceptable.”

Ceasefire proposal and sticking points

Sources close to the discussions revealed that the ceasefire proposal includes a 60-day truce. During this period, Hamas would release 10 live hostages and return several bodies, while Israel would free Palestinian detainees.

Hamas, however, is reportedly demanding additional guarantees, including conditions for an Israeli withdrawal, an assurance against resumed hostilities during negotiations, and the reactivation of UN-led aid distribution systems in Gaza.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog described Netanyahu’s mission to Washington as critical, saying, “Securing the release of all our hostages is a top priority.”

Humanitarian toll and ongoing conflict

The war has devastated Gaza’s population of over two million, with dire humanitarian conditions exacerbating the crisis. The territory’s civil defense agency reported 26 deaths on Sunday, including 10 in Gaza City’s Sheikh Radwan neighborhood. Residents like Osama al-Hanawi have called for an end to the bloodshed, saying, “We are losing families and children every day. Enough blood has been shed.”

Israeli airstrikes and the ongoing blockade have further intensified the humanitarian challenges. A US- and Israel-backed group, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), has faced criticism for its chaotic food distribution efforts. Reports indicate that over 500 people have been killed while attempting to access GHF aid, with the Gaza health ministry placing the toll at 751.

The war has claimed the lives of at least 57,418 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the territory’s health ministry. The United Nations has deemed these figures credible.

Hostage crisis and ceasefire challenges

Of the 251 hostages captured during Hamas’s 2023 attack, 49 remain in Gaza, including 27 whom the Israeli military believes to be deceased. Past mediation efforts have secured temporary ceasefires, resulting in hostages being exchanged for Palestinian prisoners. However, disagreements over Hamas’s demand for a long-term ceasefire have hindered recent negotiations.

Despite these challenges, Trump’s meeting with Netanyahu and the ongoing talks in Doha signal a renewed push for de-escalation in a conflict that has left Gaza in ruins and its population in dire need of relief.