Israel, Hamas and Trump: New Hopes for Gaza Hostage Deal and Ceasefire
There is new hope that the long war in Gaza could finally see a break. On Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he hopes his meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump will help move things forward for a hostage release and a Gaza ceasefire deal.
Netanyahu spoke just before flying to Washington for his third visit to the White House since Trump returned to office six months ago. He said Israeli negotiators now have clear orders to get a deal that will stop the fighting and bring hostages home. Talks started again in Doha, Qatar, on Sunday.
President Trump also sounded hopeful. He told reporters there is a “good chance” a deal with Hamas could happen this week, which may lead to the release of “quite a few hostages.” Trump spoke to the press before heading back to Washington from his weekend golf trip in New Jersey.
Netanyahu said he is determined to bring the hostages back safely and remove the threat of Hamas, which Israel sees as a dangerous militant group. He also hopes to talk with Trump about other issues, like stopping Iran from ever getting a nuclear weapon and making peace in more parts of the Middle East.
While there is hope, there are still many problems to solve. Some parts of Netanyahu’s right-wing government don’t want a full ceasefire in Gaza. But many people in Israel want the war to end. On Saturday night, large crowds gathered in Tel Aviv near the Defense Ministry to demand a deal to stop the war and bring home about 50 hostages who are still being held in Gaza.
How did this start?
The conflict worsened on October 7, 2023, when Hamas fighters attacked southern Israel. About 1,200 Israelis were killed and 251 people were taken hostage. Israel’s response has been heavy airstrikes and a ground attack in Gaza, which the Gaza health ministry says has killed over 57,000 Palestinians so far. Many people have lost their homes, food is running out, and Gaza’s hospitals are struggling.
Recently, Hamas said it gave a “positive” response to a U.S.-backed ceasefire plan, which could include a 60-day truce. But Hamas and other Palestinian officials still have concerns about humanitarian aid, safe passage through the Rafah crossing to Egypt, and a clear plan for Israeli soldiers to withdraw.
The first new talks in Qatar ended without a deal. Palestinian sources said the Israeli negotiators did not have a strong enough mandate to agree to Hamas’ conditions yet.
Netanyahu’s office said some changes Hamas wants are “not acceptable to Israel.” But the Israeli team will keep talking in Qatar to try to find a way forward and bring the hostages home.
As families wait for news, many hope this week’s talks between Netanyahu and Trump can help break the deadlock and bring peace closer to Gaza and Israel.
