Trump Holds Crucial Talks with Netanyahu to Push Deal to End Gaza War

WASHINGTON — In what may prove to be a turning point in efforts to bring the nearly two-year war in Gaza to a close, U.S. President Donald Trump is hosting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House, pressing him to agree to a framework for peace that could be formally unveiled in the days ahead. (Reuters)

A High-Stakes Meeting

This marks Netanyahu’s fourth visit to Washington since Trump resumed the presidency, and it comes at a moment of intense diplomatic pressure on Israel to accept a broader resolution to the conflict. (Reuters) Trump has signaled optimism ahead of the meeting, telling reporters that “we have a deal on Gaza” and expressing confidence that Netanyahu is aligned with his vision. (CBS News)

White House officials are framing the meeting as a last push to narrow remaining gaps in a 21-point peace proposal that the U.S. has shared with both Israel and regional Arab partners. (Reuters) Key issues still in dispute include the timeline and terms for ceasefire, the release of hostages, Israel’s future military presence in Gaza, and how power and security in Gaza or any transitional regime would be structured. (Reuters)

Netanyahu, for his part, has shown cautious openness to parts of the U.S. plan. In recent public remarks, he said Israel is working with the U.S. on a ceasefire proposal, but stressed that the war must ultimately result in a dismantling of Hamas. (AP News) He has also hinted at a possible tolerance for giving Hamas operatives safe passage out of Gaza in exchange for full hostage releases and an end to the war—language that aligns with some of the leaked contours of the U.S. plan. (New York Post)

The U.S. Proposal and Its Ambitions

The 21-point plan being pushed by the U.S. reportedly includes:

• An immediate ceasefire across Gaza

• The return of all hostages held by Hamas, alive or deceased, within a prescribed time window (AP News)

• A phased Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza

• Disarmament or neutralization of Hamas’s military capabilities

• A transitional governance arrangement, possibly involving moderated Palestinian authority or international oversight (AP News)

• U.S. guarantees that Israel will not attempt to annex the West Bank under the deal (The Washington Post)

According to Reuters, Trump hopes to “close some of the remaining gaps” with Netanyahu on Monday. (Reuters) But the plan faces stiff headwinds: Israel remains deeply skeptical about ceding too much on security, and Hamas must also formally accept the deal. (Reuters)

Challenges and Fault Lines

Even if Trump and Netanyahu reach agreement, the road ahead is fraught. Some of the biggest obstacles include:

• Hamas’s buy-in: Without Hamas’s consent, no deal can be fully implemented. Yet Hamas has long resisted terms requiring its disarmament or exile.

• Internal Israeli politics: Hardline ministers and pro-settler factions may rebel at concessions involving troop withdrawal or safe passage for Hamas.

• Trust and compliance: Guaranteeing that both sides stick to the deal—especially around disarmament or reconstruction—will demand credible enforcement mechanisms and likely multinational involvement.

• Accountability and civilian protection: Any agreement will attract scrutiny over legal, human rights, and humanitarian implications, especially around displaced civilians or immunity provisions.

• Regional dynamics and legitimacy: The success of a deal depends in part on Arab states, Egypt, Qatar, and international actors validating and helping to enforce it.

Additionally, Israel and the U.S. must address contentious questions around governance in Gaza post-conflict, including whether the Palestinian Authority has a legitimate role and how to prevent power vacuums. (Reuters)

What to Watch

• A joint press conference is expected after Trump and Netanyahu meet, which may include a public announcement of a deal—or at least a joint commitment to a framework. (CBS News)

• The reaction from Hamas and Palestinian leadership will be an early litmus test: accept, reject, or demand changes?

• International responses, especially from Arab, Islamic, and European states, will influence legitimacy and enforcement.

• Implementation mechanics: how to monitor ceasefire, disarmament, aid flows, reconstruction, and security arrangements.

• Possible spoilers: factions on all sides who may undermine a fragile agreement if they perceive themselves marginalized.

Implications if the Deal Holds—or Fails

If the agreement holds, it could bring a fragile but meaningful respite to Gaza’s devastated population, deliver justice for hostages, and reset diplomatic dynamics in the region. Trump would score a significant foreign-policy victory, bolstering U.S. influence in the Middle East.

But if the deal collapses—or one side backs out—the consequences could be dire: renewed military escalation, deepened regional polarization, and a further credibility blow to diplomacy.

Monday’s meeting thus presents one of the most consequential moments yet in the Israel–Gaza war. Whether it becomes the turning point toward peace or another missed opportunity will depend on political will, diplomacy, and the capacities of all parties to deliver on their commitments.