Former U.S. President Donald Trump aims to align with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on a framework to end the war in Gaza during their meeting at the White House on Monday, according to U.S. officials.
Trump is looking to build on the recent Israel-Iran ceasefire to secure progress in Gaza talks, which have stalled for months. Negotiators from Israel and Hamas, with Qatari and Egyptian mediation, resumed discussions Sunday in Doha, focusing on final sticking points in a potential ceasefire.
The proposed deal includes a 60-day truce and the release of 10 living Israeli hostages and 18 deceased hostages. Trump hopes the agreement could lead to a broader peace effort. Netanyahu, however, has remained hesitant to commit to ending the war.
A key issue in the Trump-Netanyahu talks will be the post-war governance of Gaza. U.S. officials said Trump wants to secure an understanding on who would administer Gaza without Hamas and what security arrangements would prevent the group from regaining power.
Initial conversations on the post-war scenario were held last week between Netanyahu’s adviser Ron Dermer and White House envoy Steve Witkoff.
“We want to get an agreement on what comes next. At least a framework for the day after,” a U.S. official said.
Israel has eased its earlier demand for the complete exile of Hamas leaders and is now willing to accept the expulsion of a small number of top military commanders. Israel also seeks the dismantling of Hamas' military wing but may consider amnesty for hundreds of militants who surrender their weapons.
Netanyahu has made clear that Hamas will not have any role in governing Gaza after the war. He also rejects involving the Palestinian Authority, instead proposing that Arab countries oversee Gaza’s security alongside local Palestinian figures unaffiliated with Hamas or the Palestinian Authority.
However, Egypt, Jordan, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia oppose this approach. They insist on Palestinian Authority involvement and demand a credible political path for Palestinians as a condition for their participation in any post-war arrangement.
European and Arab nations are pressing for a long-term solution tied to a two-state framework, a proposal Netanyahu’s government strongly rejects.
