Netanyahu and Trump to Meet Again Amid Reports of “Significant” Progress in Gaza Talks; Core Issue of War’s End Unresolved

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is scheduled for another meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump tonight, less than 24 hours after their White House dinner. The unscheduled meeting occurs amidst reports of significant progress in ongoing negotiations between Israel and Hamas.

The second meeting is set for Tuesday night.
Following Monday evening’s White House meeting, senior Israeli officials told the Times of Israel that between 80-90% of a hostage release and ceasefire deal with Hamas has been settled, with “supreme coordination” between Jerusalem and Washington on Gaza, Iran, and broader regional developments.

However, the core issue of definitively ending the war remains unresolved. Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, who attended the White House meeting, stated that while Hamas’s initial response to Qatar’s proposal was “in essence, no,” the remaining gaps are small enough to continue talks.

During the Monday night dinner, Netanyahu presented Trump with a mezuzah, made of shrapnel from Iranian missiles, in the form of a B-2 bomber, as a token of appreciation for the US’ involvement in dismantling Iran’s nuclear program.

As a third round of indirect negotiations commenced in Doha on Tuesday morning, a senior Israeli official reiterated that most of the deal’s terms are agreed upon, though the final stage could extend beyond a few days. A spokesman for the Qatari Foreign Ministry, Majed Al-Ansari, confirmed that negotiations will “need time,” with delegations currently in Doha for separate discussions on a framework for the talks.

A report from the Qatari newspaper Al-Araby Al-Jadeed suggests progress on the mechanism for humanitarian aid delivery into Gaza, with Hamas reportedly demanding UN oversight during a ceasefire rather than the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.

Despite expectations of pressure from Trump and his Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff to advance the Gaza talks, Israel described “total coordination” between the two sides. Witkoff, who is slated to travel to Qatar for the talks, expressed optimism about finally achieving a peace deal. After the dinner, a senior Israeli official underscored the “full trust and coordination” between Israel and the U.S. Mediators have reportedly been informed that President Trump expects an agreement to be secured this week.

A Palestinian source close to the talks indicated that discussions are focused on implementation mechanisms, particularly clauses concerning IDF withdrawal and humanitarian aid. Negotiators in Doha also addressed parameters of Israel’s partial withdrawal from Gaza during a proposed 60-day ceasefire, with Israel presenting a map outlining its envisioned pullback. While Hamas initially demanded a return to pre-March 2 truce positions, the group has reportedly shown some flexibility.
The central point of contention, whether the agreement constitutes a temporary pause, as Israel insists, or a permanent end to the conflict, as Hamas demands, remains unresolved.

A senior Israeli official stated on Tuesday morning that Israel’s endgame envisions a Gaza where “there is no more Hamas,” with the group disarmed, its leaders exiled, and another force preventing weapon use. The official added that Israel might need to temporarily manage life in Gaza before transitioning authority to another entity. The official also expressed conviction that Trump is serious about encouraging Gazan emigration.

On the issue of Iran, Israel and the US are reportedly in full agreement, with an Israeli official noting extensive cooperation, including during Israel’s recent 12-day aerial campaign against Iran’s nuclear program and military, which saw U.S. involvement. The official described “very significant accomplishments” in Iran that both nations seek to preserve, emphasizing unprecedented coordination based on gradually built trust. The official clarified that Israel did not request or receive a “green light” from Trump for the recent attacks on Iran.

Before his dinner with Trump, Netanyahu met with Steve Witkoff and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. These two-hour meetings covered negotiations, Gaza, and other topics. Prime Minister Netanyahu’s continued visit includes meetings with U.S. Vice President JD Vance, House Speaker Mike Johnson, Majority Leader John Thune, Democratic Senator John Fetterman, and other senators.