Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday at the White House, as Israel and Hamas signal readiness for negotiations on the next phase of their fragile Gaza ceasefire.
Netanyahu’s visit marks the first by a foreign leader since Trump’s return to power last month. The leaders are expected to discuss the truce’s future and broader efforts to end the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
In a statement issued ahead of the meeting, Netanyahu’s office confirmed that Israel would send a delegation to Doha later this week to engage in technical discussions regarding the ceasefire agreement.
“Israel is preparing for the working-level delegation to leave for Doha at the end of this week to discuss technical details related to the continued implementation of the agreement,” the statement said.
Hamas has also expressed willingness to negotiate the second phase of the ceasefire, with mediation efforts led by Qatar, Egypt, and the United States. The next stage is expected to focus on securing the release of remaining hostages and outlining steps toward ending the conflict, which has devastated Gaza’s population of 2.4 million.
Ongoing Conflict and Diplomatic Challenges
The war began on October 7, 2023, following a Hamas attack on Israel. Since then, the conflict has reshaped regional dynamics, with Netanyahu asserting that Israel’s confrontations with Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and Iran have “redrawn the map” of the Middle East.
“But I believe that working closely with President Trump, we can redraw it even further, and for the better,” Netanyahu stated before departing for Washington.
Trump, who has taken credit for brokering the ceasefire after 15 months of war, has consistently advocated for the evacuation of Gaza, proposing that Palestinians relocate to neighboring countries such as Egypt and Jordan—an idea firmly rejected by all parties involved.
While Netanyahu and Trump have historically shared a strong alliance, the Israeli prime minister’s relationship with Trump’s predecessor, Joe Biden, was more strained, particularly over the rising death toll in Gaza. Despite maintaining U.S. military aid to Israel, Biden had urged Netanyahu to show restraint.
Trump, however, is expected to push Netanyahu to uphold the ceasefire agreement while also pressing him to agree to a normalization deal with Saudi Arabia—an initiative that Trump previously attempted during his first term in office.
In recent remarks, Trump described negotiations between Israel and Middle Eastern nations as “progressing” but cautioned that there were “no guarantees that the peace is going to hold.”
Humanitarian Crisis and West Bank Tensions
Under the current 42-day ceasefire’s first phase, Hamas has agreed to release 33 hostages in exchange for approximately 1,900 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails. Four hostage-prisoner exchanges have already taken place, with 18 hostages freed so far in exchange for about 600 Palestinian detainees.
The truce has allowed a significant increase in humanitarian aid, including food, fuel, and medical supplies, to enter Gaza. It has also permitted displaced civilians to return to northern areas of the enclave, which have been heavily damaged by Israeli airstrikes.
According to official Israeli figures, Hamas’s October 7 attack resulted in the deaths of 1,210 people, mostly civilians. In response, Israel’s military campaign has killed at least 47,518 people in Gaza, the majority civilians, according to figures from the Hamas-run health ministry, which the United Nations deems reliable.
Beyond Gaza, tensions have escalated in the occupied West Bank, where Israel has intensified military operations. The Israeli army stated on Tuesday that its forces had killed a gunman who fired on troops near the city of Jenin.
As the diplomatic process unfolds, the Netanyahu-Trump meeting is expected to play a crucial role in shaping the future of the ceasefire and broader efforts to stabilize the region.
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