As Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held conferences Monday with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Particular Envoy for the Center East Steve Witkoff after which President Donald Trump, right here is the most recent on the place issues stand with ceasefire negotiations — and what’s on the Trump administration’s agenda relating to charting a course for the way forward for Gaza.
What’s on the desk
The deal on the desk would see ten dwelling hostages — about half of the whole quantity of detainees believed to nonetheless be alive in Gaza — and the stays of 18 extra returned to Israel in 5 separate releases in trade for a 60-day ceasefire, the discharge of some Palestinian prisoners, and a surge of humanitarian support for Palestinians within the enclave. T
he particulars of how that support could be equipped and distributed are nonetheless underneath negotiation, in keeping with an official acquainted with the matter.
The expectation is that U.S.-backed talks to completely finish the battle would choose up throughout the truce, officers say.
President Donald Trump holds a bilateral dinner with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio in attendance, on the White Home, July 7, 2025.
Kevin Lamarque/Reuters
The place issues stand
Israel has signed off on the principle tenets of the proposal because it at the moment stands. Hamas has indicated it sees potential however nonetheless has some excellent points.
Officers acquainted with the negotiations say that the most important sticking level is per failed talks prior to now: Hamas desires assurances {that a} ceasefire will result in a everlasting finish to battle. It desires assurances that talks throughout the ceasefire on a everlasting finish to the battle will proceed past the 60-day window if it’s a necessity.
Israel, in the meantime, is reluctant to signal on to any language that restricts navy motion.
Israel can be adamant that Hamas cannot be allowed to play any half in governing Gaza — a time period the Trump administration is aligned with. Each governments are cautious of permitting for a scenario just like what existed in Lebanon with Hezbollah, the place a civilian authorities is in place however the militant group holds important management.
Hamas additionally desires to see the controversial Gaza Humanitarian Basis (GHF) finish operations and the U.N. plus different worldwide organizations allowed to completely resume distribution. U.S. officers say they imagine there may be some room for compromise on this level, however do not foresee the U.S.-backed GHF being absolutely pushed out.
Daniel Dannon, Israel’s ambassador to the U.N., informed reporters final week he might foresee some “mixture” of GHF and the U.N. administering support in a “day-after” situation for Gaza.
Israeli and Hamas officers are holding oblique proximity talks in Doha to attempt to resolve among the variations, and the White Home stated earlier Monday that Witkoff would journey there this week.
Witkoff’s involvement is seen as a promising signal for the prospect of reaching an settlement, but additionally as a sign that it’s going to take extra high-level engagement from the U.S. to get it over the end line.
The place issues go subsequent
Officers are very a lot taking a look at President Trump and different key Cupboard member assembly with Netanyahu as working engagements, as a result of although Israel sees eye to eye with the united stateson the most important phrases of the ceasefire settlement, the administration is trying to Netanyahu because it makes an attempt to work out an endgame and decide on aims for the “day after” in Gaza.
Trump has largely targeted on increasing the Abraham Accords, an settlement in his first time period that led to normalization of relations between Israel and a few Arab nations. He is additionally proposed a relocation plan for Gaza’s two million Palestinians, which Netanyahu endorsed on the time.
An growth of the Abraham Accords and a “day-after” proposal for Gaza are each seen as needing broader regional buy-in from influential Arab States, like Saudi Arabia.
Lots of them are insistent the PA ought to play a job in governing Gaza, which Israel has opposed. Working-level discussions on Gaza with these Center Japanese governments are occurring on a steady foundation.
Trump is looking for an enormous win in Gaza — and momentum on Iran
Trump is looking for a “victory with a capital “V” throughout Netanyahu’s go to, stated Dana Stroul, a former deputy assistant secretary of protection for the Center East from 2021 to 2023.
The president, who has stated he’ll measure the success of his presidency by the wars he is ended, will look to trip off of the ceasefire he brokered in Iran with a ceasefire in Gaza.
He “not solely has leverage, however has constructed up goodwill” with Netanyahu after the U.S. joined Israel’s battle in Iran, Stroul stated.
“President Trump has put assets within the sport, not simply phrases. And so he has leverage at this second in time to inform Netanyahu, it is time to wind down the wars in Gaza,” she stated.
Whereas it is not clear what diplomatic end result the U.S. is looking for in Iran after its strikes there, the president might attempt to deposit his goodwill and “clarify [to Netanyahu] how he desires to maneuver ahead on the Iran file.”
“It actually has the makings of a grand cut price,” Stroul stated. However a ceasefire would solely briefly halt preventing earlier than a broad “day-after” settlement for Gaza — and the area — could be negotiated.
