In a high-stakes meeting at the White House on Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump hosted Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as Israel and Hamas held indirect talks to secure a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal.
Speaking alongside his Israeli counterpart, Trump said Washington has scheduled talks with Iran and lauded emerging cooperation with Israel’s regional neighbors to support Palestinians caught in Gaza’s conflict. “We’re working with the United States very closely about finding countries that will seek to realize what they always say,” Netanyahu told reporters. “I think we’re getting close to finding several countries.”
Netanyahu suggested that Gaza residents could either remain in place or be offered safe passage to neighboring states. “If people want to stay, they can stay, but if they want to leave, they should be able to leave,” he said.
Despite optimism from both leaders, the first round of indirect ceasefire talks in Qatar ended without a breakthrough, according to Palestinian sources. Negotiations were expected to resume later in the evening as mediators push to secure both a halt in hostilities and the release of hostages.
This visit marked Trump’s third face-to-face meeting with Netanyahu since returning to office in January. It also came just weeks after the U.S. president ordered strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities in support of Israeli air raids, underlining the administration’s close alignment with Israeli security priorities.
On the Iran front, Trump confirmed plans for upcoming discussions with Tehran, saying he would like to explore lifting sanctions as part of a “permanent deal.” U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff said those talks could take place within the next week.
Meanwhile, humanitarian concerns remain acute in Gaza. A four-month Israeli blockade has pushed fuel reserves to critical lows, with U.N. agencies warning that nearly all of the enclave’s remaining fuel has been earmarked exclusively for life-saving operations. Palestinian sources blamed Israel’s refusal to allow unrestricted humanitarian aid into Gaza as a key obstacle to progress in the ceasefire talks.
As Trump and Netanyahu look for diplomatic openings on both Gaza and Iran, stakeholders around the world are watching closely. With hostages still in captivity and civilians facing mounting hardship, the coming days will test whether negotiations can translate into tangible relief on the ground.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
