Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump are once again at the center of high-stakes diplomacy as the war in Gaza grinds on. The two leaders, who met previously in the Oval Office in April, are scheduled to sit down for another critical meeting at the White House on Monday — a discussion that could determine the future of the conflict.
Trump, who has been eager to project himself as a dealmaker on the world stage, promised over the weekend that “something special” is coming for Gaza, raising expectations that his administration is nearing completion of its ambitious 21-point ceasefire and post-war governance framework. The plan reportedly includes a ceasefire, the release of all hostages held by Hamas, and a roadmap for rebuilding Gaza under international supervision — a proposal the White House believes could set the stage for an eventual resolution to one of the world’s most intractable conflicts.
“We have a real chance for GREATNESS IN THE MIDDLE EAST,” Trump declared on his social media platform Sunday. “ALL ARE ON BOARD FOR SOMETHING SPECIAL, FIRST TIME EVER. WE WILL GET IT DONE!!!”
Despite Trump’s optimism, the path forward is far from clear. Israeli officials have indicated that Prime Minister Netanyahu still has significant reservations about several aspects of the plan. In an interview with Fox News on Sunday, Netanyahu struck a cautious tone. “We’re working on it,” he said. “It’s not been finalized yet.”
Three senior Israeli officials told reporters that Netanyahu is expected to push for revisions to the plan before it is finalized — particularly on the role of the Palestinian Authority and the inclusion of language referring to the “aspirations” of a future Palestinian state, a subject that has long divided Israeli politics. One official noted that Netanyahu “will not accept all of the outline as it has been initially published” and may continue to seek changes even after a deal is formally announced.
Meanwhile, Hamas stated Sunday that it has yet to receive a formal proposal but reiterated its willingness to review any plan presented by mediators such as Egypt and Qatar, provided it protects Palestinian national rights.
The stakes could not be higher. Gaza’s health ministry reported on Sunday that more than 66,000 people have been killed since the start of the conflict — a staggering toll that has intensified international pressure for a ceasefire.
Netanyahu already discussed the American plan with Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff and senior adviser Jared Kushner during meetings at the UN General Assembly last week. Trump also presented the proposal to key Arab states, hoping to rally regional support for a deal that could stabilize Gaza and prevent another cycle of violence.
Still, political challenges loom at home for Netanyahu. His far-right coalition partners, including National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, have threatened to bring down the government if the war ends without what they describe as the “total defeat of Hamas.” Ben Gvir was blunt on social media Saturday: “Mr. Prime Minister, you do not have a mandate to end the war without a complete defeat of Hamas.”
The coming days will test whether Trump’s White House can bridge these divides and deliver what the president has promised could be a historic breakthrough for peace — or whether the talks will collapse like previous efforts, leaving the region mired in continued bloodshed and instability.