Trump and Netanyahu Meet to Discuss Comprehensive Gaza Peace Plan: What's at Stake

This will be Trump and Netanyahu's fourth meeting since the US leader took office in January. (File)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to meet with US President Donald Trump at the White House on Monday for critical discussions, as Washington signals that a comprehensive plan to end the Gaza war is nearly finalized.

The upcoming meeting marks the fourth encounter between these two allies since Trump assumed office in January. Last week in New York, the US President shared a 21-point proposal aimed at resolving the Israel-Hamas conflict with regional leaders.

"We have a real chance for greatness in the Middle East," Trump announced on his Truth Social platform Sunday. "All are on board for something special, first time ever. We will get it done."

While Trump's optimism is evident, both Israel and Hamas have indicated they need time to evaluate the plan. A senior Israeli official told US editors during a background briefing that Israel would only comment after Monday's meeting. Hamas representatives have stated they haven't yet reviewed the proposal.

According to reports from the Washington Post and Times of Israel, the proposed plan would require Hamas to release all 48 hostages, both living and deceased, within 48 hours. Israeli military operations would cease with a gradual withdrawal of troops. Israel would agree to release Palestinian prisoners and allow substantially increased aid into Gaza.

Under the proposal, Hamas would be required to disarm and would have no governance role in Palestinian territory. A transitional administration would be established, along with initiatives to deradicalize schools and mosques.

Israeli officials have neither confirmed nor denied these details. One high-ranking Israeli official, speaking anonymously, dismissed some reported aspects as speculative "trial balloons."

These diplomatic discussions come as Israel intensifies its military campaign in Gaza City, the territory's de facto capital, with the stated objective of eliminating Hamas's remaining military strongholds. Israeli forces have displaced approximately 700,000 of the city's 1 million residents and destroyed high-rise buildings allegedly containing Hamas equipment, as well as tunnels used by Hamas fighters.

On Sunday evening, Israeli ground troops advanced deeper into Gaza City, reaching approximately 1 kilometer from the main hospital in the city center, according to witness accounts and social media footage showing tanks and military vehicles in central areas.

The conflict, approaching its two-year mark next week, has claimed the lives of about 66,000 Palestinians, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. Gaza's population has experienced repeated displacement and faces dire living conditions, severe health challenges, and critical food shortages, with a UN-backed organization declaring famine in parts of the territory a month ago.

The senior Israeli official who briefed US editors outlined five conditions Israel considers essential for ending the war: Hamas must be disarmed, all hostages returned, Gaza demilitarized, Israeli security control maintained, and an administration established that is independent of both Hamas and the Palestinian Authority, which governs parts of the West Bank.

These demands directly contradict Hamas's longstanding positions, which include complete Israeli withdrawal and retention of their weapons. Hamas, backed by Iran, is designated as a terrorist organization by the United States and European Union.

The Palestinian humanitarian crisis received significant attention during last week's United Nations General Assembly in New York, where ten countries—including France, the UK, and Canada—joined the majority of members in recognizing Palestinian statehood while condemning Israeli actions in Gaza and the West Bank.

The United States and Israel strongly opposed these recognitions, characterizing them as rewards for terrorism following the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel that initiated the war. That assault by Hamas militants resulted in 1,200 deaths and 250 kidnappings.

Israel views Hamas as part of an Iranian-aligned front dedicated to its destruction and maintains that military operations cannot cease until Hamas is eliminated. However, much of the international community perceives Israel's response as disproportionate and excessive, distinguishing between Hamas and the more moderate Palestinian Authority.

Approximately 159 nations now support Palestinian statehood and are using diplomatic channels to pressure Israel to end the war. Israel, which previously supported Palestinian statehood, now opposes it, fearing another attack similar to October 7 and seeing little distinction between Palestinian factions.

Israel has shifted significantly rightward in recent years, with Netanyahu's coalition government including nationalist settlers who advocate annexing both Gaza and the West Bank, where approximately 600,000 Israeli settlers live among 3 million Palestinians.

Trump stated last week he would not permit Israeli annexation of the West Bank. The senior Israeli official declined to comment on this position, though several Israeli ministers have called for annexation in response to international recognition of Palestinian statehood and Israel's growing isolation.

Former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, US special envoy Steve Witkoff, and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner are among those involved in developing the Gaza peace plan.