Washington: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to meet with US President Donald Trump on Monday, following Trump’s expressed hope for a Gaza hostage deal to be reached "this week." Indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas resumed on Sunday in Doha, focusing on a ceasefire and a hostage-prisoner swap.
According to France24.com, the indirect talks aim to broker a ceasefire and facilitate the release of hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. Trump mentioned there was a "good chance" of reaching an agreement soon. Netanyahu has sent a team to Doha with specific instructions to forge an agreement based on pre-agreed conditions.
Earlier, Netanyahu criticized Hamas for what he described as "unacceptable" demands in response to a draft US-backed ceasefire proposal mediated by Qatar and Egypt. Sources close to the discussions revealed that the proposal included a 60-day truce, during which Hamas would release 10 living hostages and several bodies in exchange for Palestinians detained by Israel.
The sources also indicated that Hamas is seeking conditions for Israel's withdrawal, assurances against renewed fighting during negotiations, and the reestablishment of the UN-led aid distribution system. Israeli President Isaac Herzog emphasized Netanyahu's "important mission" in Washington, which is to advance a deal to secure the release of all Israeli hostages.
Trump’s meeting with Netanyahu is scheduled for 6:30 pm (2230 GMT) on Monday, with no press attendance, as stated by the White House. Of the 251 hostages captured by Palestinian militants during the 2023 conflict, 49 remain in Gaza, including 27 the Israeli military reports as dead.
Efforts to establish a new truce have repeatedly encountered obstacles, primarily due to Israel's opposition to Hamas's demand for a lasting ceasefire. In Gaza, the civil defense agency reported 26 fatalities due to Israeli forces on Sunday, including a strike in the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood of Gaza City.
The ongoing conflict has exacerbated humanitarian conditions for over two million residents in the Gaza Strip. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a US- and Israel-backed group, assumed control of food distribution in late May when Israel partially lifted a blockade on aid. However, the rollout has been fraught with challenges, including reports of fatalities among aid seekers.
UN agencies and major aid organizations have distanced themselves from the GHF, citing concerns about its alignment with Israeli military objectives. The UN human rights office reported last week that over 500 people have died waiting for food at GHF distribution sites, while the Gaza health ministry places the toll at 751.
The conflict, sparked by Hamas's October 2023 attack, resulted in 1,219 deaths, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally. Israel's retaliatory actions have claimed at least 57,418 lives in Gaza, mostly civilians, as reported by the Hamas-run territory's health ministry and corroborated by United Nations figures.