Upon his return from the FIFA Club World Cup final, President Donald Trump addressed reporters at Joint Base Andrews on Sunday, expressing his hope for a ceasefire in Gaza within the coming week.
"Gaza, we are talking and hopefully were going to get that straightened out over the next week. Lets see what happens," he stated, signaling a potential breakthrough in the ongoing conflict.
As reported by Breitbart, a senior Israeli official recently indicated that a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza was on the horizon. This agreement is expected to include the release of ten of the 20 remaining Israeli hostages. Despite this potential progress, the Israeli government remains committed to securing the release of all hostages, while also aiming to dismantle Hamas and expel its leadership from the region.
The Times of Israel highlighted that, although optimism was expressed by both U.S. and Israeli officials regarding an imminent agreement, negotiations have hit a roadblock. The discussions have stalled over the extent of Israel's military withdrawal from Gaza, according to an Arab diplomat and another source involved in mediation efforts.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who held meetings with President Trump and his officials at the White House last week, has maintained that the conflict cannot conclude until Hamas is stripped of its military and civil governance capabilities, ensuring Gaza no longer poses a threat to Israel. Netanyahu is resolute in achieving these objectives and securing the return of all 50 hostages, with 20 believed to be alive and held captive in the region.
In a bid to advance negotiations, Israel proposed a scaled-down withdrawal plan on Wednesday, which was subsequently rejected by Hamas. The militant group accused Netanyahu of using the proposal to establish a "humanitarian city" in southern Gaza.
Defense Minister Israel Katz has articulated Israel's intention to eventually relocate Gaza's entire population to this area, vet them upon entry, and restrict their movement, while encouraging emigration from the enclave. This plan has faced significant opposition both domestically and internationally.
Hamas has consistently dismissed various ceasefire proposals, and Israel has declared its intention to enter Gaza City, the last bastion of the terror organization, even if it endangers the remaining hostages. This stance underscores the complexity of the situation, as Hamas could refuse a deal, forcing Netanyahu to confront the difficult decision of continuing a conflict that jeopardizes the lives of the hostages, a matter of utmost concern for the Israeli public.
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