Background on Key Figures and Relevance
Donald Trump, the President of the United States, met with Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, at the White House on Monday to urge an end to the devastating war in Gaza. This is Netanyahu’s third visit since Trump returned to power, occurring at a critical time when the U.S. president aims to capitalize on the momentum from the recent truce between Israel and Iran.
Trump’s Confidence in Conflict Resolution
During the dinner, Trump expressed his confidence that the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas is willing to end the conflict, which has now entered its twenty-second month. “They want to meet and they want that ceasefire,” Trump told reporters when asked what prevented achieving a peace agreement in Gaza.
Netanyahu’s Stance on Palestinian Statehood
While Netanyahu supported Trump and nominated him for the Nobel Peace Prize, he was more cautious regarding peace with the Palestinians. He dismissed the idea of an independent Palestinian state, stating that Israel “will always” maintain security control over Gaza. “It may not be a full state, it may not be a state at all,” Netanyahu remarked.
Protests and Ongoing Negotiations
As Trump and Netanyahu met inside the White House, dozens of protesters gathered outside, accusing Netanyahu of “genocide.” Meanwhile, indirect talks between Israel and Hamas continued in Qatar for a second day to reach a truce to the war sparked by Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israeli territory.
Key Issues in Negotiations
The recent round of negotiations on the Gaza conflict began Sunday in Doha, with representatives seated in separate rooms within the same building. According to a Palestinian official involved in the talks, Monday’s discussions yielded “no progress.” Hamas and Israel planned to resume negotiations later.
Palestinian sources indicated that the proposal under discussion includes a 60-day truce during which Hamas would release ten live Israeli hostages and several bodies of kidnapped individuals in exchange for the freedom of Palestinian prisoners in Israel. However, Hamas also demands certain conditions for Israel’s withdrawal, guarantees against the resumption of fighting during negotiations, and the return of the UN-managed aid distribution system.
Humanitarian Impact and Casualties
According to the Gaza Civil Defense, at least 12 people died in Israeli attacks within the isolated Palestinian territory on Monday. Media restrictions and difficulties accessing many areas in Gaza hinder independent verification of the provided figures and data.
The Hamas attack that triggered the war resulted in 1,219 deaths in Israel, mostly civilians, according to an official Israeli tally. At least 57,523 Palestinians have died in the Israeli offensive in Gaza, mostly civilians, as reported by the territory’s Hamas-controlled Health Ministry. The UN considers these statistics reliable.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who are the key figures involved? President Donald Trump of the United States and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel.
- Why is this meeting significant? The meeting aims to pressure Netanyahu into ending the conflict in Gaza, which has been ongoing for twenty-two months.
- What are the main points of contention in negotiations? Key issues include a 60-day truce, prisoner exchanges, Israel’s security control over Gaza, and the return of UN-managed aid distribution.
- What is the current humanitarian situation in Gaza? There have been numerous fatalities from Israeli attacks, with at least 12 reported on Monday. Media restrictions and access difficulties complicate independent verification of casualty figures.
