Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will meet US President Donald Trump in Washington on Monday amid mounting international pressure to end the war in Gaza. The meeting comes days after Trump unveiled a 21-point plan aimed at ending the conflict, discussed with Arab and Muslim leaders on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.
On Sunday, Trump hinted at “something special” in Middle East talks on his Truth Social platform, writing: “WE WILL GET IT DONE!!!” Speaking to reporters in Washington on Friday, he added, “I think we have a deal” on Gaza, even as Netanyahu, addressing the UN, vowed to “finish the job” in Israel’s war against Hamas.
Experts say Netanyahu is increasingly cornered, with the US and Trump his near-sole international allies. “He has no other choice but to accept” Trump’s plan for a ceasefire, Eytan Gilboa, a US-Israel relations expert at Bar-Ilan University told AFP. Tens of thousands of protesters in Israel have also urged Netanyahu to agree to a ceasefire, appealing directly to Trump.
Key elements of Trump’s 21-point plan
According to sources briefed on the proposal, the US plan calls for an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages within 48 hours, a gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces, and a major humanitarian aid influx into Gaza. The plan also envisages the return of the Palestinian Authority (PA) to govern Gaza under a reform programme, a move likely to alarm Netanyahu’s hardline coalition partners.
“This kind of broad plan would need a broad consensus,” said Ksenia Svetlova, a former Knesset member. Some coalition ministers have threatened to collapse the government if Netanyahu agrees to the PA’s return or ends the war without defeating Hamas. Opposition leader Yair Lapid has offered his party’s support for a ceasefire, but other parties’ positions remain uncertain.
Security arrangements in Gaza post-withdrawal are another contentious issue. The proposal envisions an international force comprising Palestinian personnel and troops from Arab and Muslim nations, but command structures and operational oversight remain unclear. “This plan is internationalising the Gaza conflict in an unprecedented way,” Svetlova said.
Conflict and humanitarian crisis intensify
Despite growing pressure, Netanyahu has insisted Israel will continue fighting Hamas, whose October 2023 attack triggered the war. On Sunday, he told Fox News, “It’s not been finalised yet, but we’re working with President Trump’s team, actually as we speak, and I hope we can — we can make it a go.”
The humanitarian situation in Gaza is worsening. Israel’s military strikes have destroyed vast areas, displacing around 90% of the population, with famine-like conditions reported. Gaza’s Health Ministry reported more than 66,000 deaths and over 168,000 wounded since the conflict began, though it does not differentiate between civilians and militants.
On Sunday, local hospitals in Gaza reported at least 10 fatalities from strikes on homes in the Nuseirat refugee camp, while residents described continuous explosions overnight. Meanwhile, Israeli forces continued to target Hamas infrastructure, including the demolition of a 16-story building in Gaza City after warning residents to evacuate.
With global criticism mounting, including recognition of Palestinian statehood by the UK, France, Canada, and Australia, Netanyahu faces growing isolation. The European Union is considering sanctions, and the International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant accusing him of crimes against humanity, which he denies.
As Netanyahu heads to Washington, the world watches whether Trump’s 21-point plan can reconcile Israel’s security concerns with international calls for an immediate end to the Gaza conflict.
On Sunday, Trump hinted at “something special” in Middle East talks on his Truth Social platform, writing: “WE WILL GET IT DONE!!!” Speaking to reporters in Washington on Friday, he added, “I think we have a deal” on Gaza, even as Netanyahu, addressing the UN, vowed to “finish the job” in Israel’s war against Hamas.
Experts say Netanyahu is increasingly cornered, with the US and Trump his near-sole international allies. “He has no other choice but to accept” Trump’s plan for a ceasefire, Eytan Gilboa, a US-Israel relations expert at Bar-Ilan University told AFP. Tens of thousands of protesters in Israel have also urged Netanyahu to agree to a ceasefire, appealing directly to Trump.
Key elements of Trump’s 21-point plan
According to sources briefed on the proposal, the US plan calls for an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages within 48 hours, a gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces, and a major humanitarian aid influx into Gaza. The plan also envisages the return of the Palestinian Authority (PA) to govern Gaza under a reform programme, a move likely to alarm Netanyahu’s hardline coalition partners.
“This kind of broad plan would need a broad consensus,” said Ksenia Svetlova, a former Knesset member. Some coalition ministers have threatened to collapse the government if Netanyahu agrees to the PA’s return or ends the war without defeating Hamas. Opposition leader Yair Lapid has offered his party’s support for a ceasefire, but other parties’ positions remain uncertain.
Security arrangements in Gaza post-withdrawal are another contentious issue. The proposal envisions an international force comprising Palestinian personnel and troops from Arab and Muslim nations, but command structures and operational oversight remain unclear. “This plan is internationalising the Gaza conflict in an unprecedented way,” Svetlova said.
Conflict and humanitarian crisis intensify
Despite growing pressure, Netanyahu has insisted Israel will continue fighting Hamas, whose October 2023 attack triggered the war. On Sunday, he told Fox News, “It’s not been finalised yet, but we’re working with President Trump’s team, actually as we speak, and I hope we can — we can make it a go.”
The humanitarian situation in Gaza is worsening. Israel’s military strikes have destroyed vast areas, displacing around 90% of the population, with famine-like conditions reported. Gaza’s Health Ministry reported more than 66,000 deaths and over 168,000 wounded since the conflict began, though it does not differentiate between civilians and militants.
On Sunday, local hospitals in Gaza reported at least 10 fatalities from strikes on homes in the Nuseirat refugee camp, while residents described continuous explosions overnight. Meanwhile, Israeli forces continued to target Hamas infrastructure, including the demolition of a 16-story building in Gaza City after warning residents to evacuate.
With global criticism mounting, including recognition of Palestinian statehood by the UK, France, Canada, and Australia, Netanyahu faces growing isolation. The European Union is considering sanctions, and the International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant accusing him of crimes against humanity, which he denies.
As Netanyahu heads to Washington, the world watches whether Trump’s 21-point plan can reconcile Israel’s security concerns with international calls for an immediate end to the Gaza conflict.
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