White House hosts Netanyahu for Gaza ceasefire talks

 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met President Donald Trump at the White House on July 7 as indirect ceasefire talks were unfolding in Doha between Israel and Hamas. The centerpiece of the visit was a bilateral dinner in the Blue Room, where both leaders expressed cautious optimism about finalizing a U.S.-backed 60‑day truce. The proposal contemplates phased Israeli troop withdrawals from Gaza, a scaled release of hostages, enhanced humanitarian aid distribution, and subsequent negotiations toward a lasting peace apnews.com+15washingtonpost.com+15abc.net.au+15.

Netanyahu used the occasion to present Trump with a letter nominating him for the Nobel Peace Prize, a gesture reportedly appreciated by the president. Trump confirmed that he had scheduled new diplomatic talks with Iran—following earlier U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites—and signaled a willingness to eventually lift sanctions, reflecting the administration's broader regional strategy reuters.com+1abc.net.au+1.

During discussions, Netanyahu repeated his long-standing position that any future Palestinian state should not possess sovereign military power, stating that “security must remain under Israeli control.” He emphasized that the October 7 Hamas onslaught provided ample evidence that Gaza, under militant rule, could become a threat again reuters.com.

A chief roadblock in Qatari negotiations remains the safe delivery of humanitarian aid, a point Palestinian sources cited as a primary sticking point. Israel maintains it is taking measures to prevent aid diversion to militant groups straitstimes.com+15reuters.com+15reuters.com+15.

Trump told reporters he believed a deal could be reached this week, and that his meeting with Netanyahu had “real momentum.” White House Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff is expected to travel to Doha within days to lend further momentum to the indirect talks abcnews.go.com+3abc.net.au+3reuters.com+3.

As Netanyahu departs for further meetings on Capitol Hill and returns to Qatar later in the week, protests are simmering outside the White House, with demonstrators urging an immediate end to U.S. support for Israel and condemning the civilian toll in Gaza reuters.com.

The proposed framework envisions a phased exchange of hostages—including returning living captives and remains—followed by a temporary ceasefire backed by U.S., Qatar, and Egypt. Humanitarian aid would be coordinated through the UN or independent organizations, and Israeli forces would pull back to buffer zones. Yet significant disagreements persist: Palestinian leaders seek guarantees of Israeli withdrawal and assurances that this ceasefire will lead to a permanent end to war, whereas Israel demands Hamas’s demilitarization and disarmament washingtonpost.com+5apnews.com+5apnews.com+5.

Despite diplomatic headway, the path ahead remains challenging. Hamas has responded favorably but has not fully endorsed the terms. Negotiators acknowledge that any breakthrough will require resolving disputes over troop redeployments, aid access, hostages, and the structure of long-term peace. Political pressures in Israel and uncertainty in Washington—especially regarding Iran’s involvement—could affect durability.

As both side’s delegations converge this week, all eyes turn to whether this White House diplomacy can catalyze a breakthrough in anni­nating a devastating 21‑month conflict and easing Gaza’s humanitarian crisis of over 57,000 deaths and widespread famine risk theguardian.com+1reuters.com+1.