Trump, Netanyahu Meet as Hopes Rise for Israel-Hamas Deal This Week

AFP/APP

Washington: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to meet U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday, amid renewed hopes for a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas that could lead to the release of remaining hostages held in Gaza.

Indirect negotiations began Sunday evening in Doha, with Qatari and Egyptian mediators working to broker a ceasefire and facilitate a prisoner-hostage exchange. The talks aim to secure the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.

President Trump, speaking to journalists on Sunday, expressed optimism about the ongoing negotiations. “There’s a good chance of reaching an agreement,” he said. “We’ve gotten a lot of the hostages out, and quite a few more will be coming out.”

Prime Minister Netanyahu, before departing for Washington, stated that his discussions with Trump could significantly advance progress on the deal. He confirmed that Israel has dispatched a negotiation team to Doha with “clear instructions” to secure an agreement based on pre-agreed conditions.

However, Netanyahu also reiterated concerns over Hamas’s recent response to a U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal, calling some of the group’s demands “unacceptable.”

The US continues to push for a truce to end the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, which has endured nearly two years of war.