Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in Washington on Monday, where he is scheduled to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump, who expressed optimism about reaching a ceasefire deal with Hamas this week that would include the release of hostages held in the Gaza Strip.
اضافة اعلان
Indirect negotiations between Tel Aviv and Hamas resumed Sunday evening in Doha, focusing on the implementation mechanisms for a potential agreement, including prisoner exchange, according to a Palestinian source familiar with the talks.
President Trump stated on Sunday that there is a "good chance" for an agreement, telling reporters:
“We’ve already succeeded in getting several hostages out, and we expect a substantial number of the remaining hostages to be released this week.”
Before departing Ben Gurion Airport, Netanyahu said he believes the upcoming meeting with Trump could "definitely contribute" to advancing a goal they both share—securing a ceasefire and hostage release.
The White House confirmed the meeting is expected after 6:30 p.m. local time (22:30 GMT), but without the usual media presence.
Trump is pushing for a ceasefire in Gaza, which has faced a catastrophic humanitarian crisis after nearly 21 months of war.
Netanyahu stated:
“I have sent a negotiating team with clear instructions... to finalize the agreement as discussed, under the terms we approved.”
However, on Saturday, Netanyahu described Hamas’s recent amendments to the deal as “unacceptable.”
A Proposal on the Table
According to Palestinian sources, the new proposal includes:
A 60-day ceasefire
Hamas releasing half of the living Israeli hostages
Israel freeing a significant number of Palestinian detainees
Hamas is reportedly demanding:
Israeli troop withdrawal from Gaza during the truce
International guarantees to prevent the resumption of hostilities
UN and internationally recognized NGOs to oversee the distribution of humanitarian aid
A Mission of High Stakes
Israeli President Isaac Herzog commented after meeting with Netanyahu on Sunday, saying the Prime Minister has a “mission of great importance” in Washington:
“To bring all our hostages home.”
There are still 49 hostages held in Gaza, including 27 declared dead by Israeli authorities.
Previous Ceasefires
A first ceasefire in November 2023, and a second truce for nearly two months in early 2025, led to the release of hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, through Qatari, American, and Egyptian mediation.
However, no deal was reached for the next phase, prompting Israel to resume military operations in mid-March, intensifying them in May with the stated aim of eliminating Hamas, which has ruled Gaza since 2007.
— AFP
