Trump and Netanyahu announce progress in Gaza talks

A joint press conference was held in Washington, where US President Donald Trump announced that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had agreed to support a US-proposed plan to resolve the conflict in Gaza.

The document envisions an end to nearly two years of hostilities in the Gaza Strip, the release of hostages, and a gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces.

Trump emphasized that the parties were now "closer than ever" to signing the long-awaited agreement and expressed hope that Hamas leadership would accept the terms, which pave the way for a ceasefire.

Key points of initiative

According to the White House, the 20-point plan includes:

• a ceasefire and exchange of prisoners;

• the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian detainees;

• the phased withdrawal of Israeli troops from the enclave;

• the disarmament of Hamas structures;

• and the creation of a temporary administration under the auspices of an international organization.

Trump thanked Netanyahu for his willingness to back the proposal, expressing confidence that the joint steps could "put an end to decades of violence and destruction."

Diplomatic context

This marks Netanyahu’s fourth visit to the White House since the beginning of Trump’s second term. The meeting followed a wave of recognition of Palestinian statehood by several Western countries, a move criticized by both Washington and Tel Aviv.

Trump said he viewed such recognition as a concession to Hamas but stressed that he was focused on reaching a consensus with the Israeli leadership, despite its reservations about certain provisions of the plan.

Situation in Gaza

The talks took place amid intense fighting in the Gaza Strip. Israeli armored units advanced deeper into central Gaza earlier this week in one of the largest operations since the conflict began. Netanyahu reiterated that Israel’s military objective remains the destruction of Hamas.

The fighting has left much of the enclave in ruins and deepened the humanitarian crisis. Previous US-mediated attempts to broker a deal collapsed due to irreconcilable differences between the sides.

At a recent UN meeting on the Palestinian issue, the Israeli delegation reaffirmed that military operations would continue until all hostages are freed and Hamas is entirely dismantled.

Meanwhile, tensions with Egypt are rising: Jerusalem has voiced concern over Cairo’s activity in the Sinai Peninsula, viewing it as a potential risk to the 1979 peace treaty between the two nations.