A new high-level meeting between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and representatives close to President Donald Trump has raised the prospect of an agreement between the United States and Israel on a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the return of hostages.
According to Israeli newspaper N12, a major step forward has been reached in finalizing the so-called “Trump plan,” a 21-point initiative aimed at ending the conflict with Hamas.
Leading the American delegation were Steve Witkoff, the US special envoy, and Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law and adviser, who met with Netanyahu and Israeli Minister for Strategic Affairs, Ron Dermer.
White House sources spoke of a "closeness to an agreement," but clarified that a final agreement cannot be reached without the official approval of Hamas, which has not yet responded.
During the summit, the main obstacles and possible solutions were analyzed, with particular attention to two central issues: the future role of the Palestinian National Authority in the management of Gaza and the disarmament of Hamas .
The new formulations proposed by Kushner and Witkoff were reportedly welcomed by Netanyahu and Dermer, marking an important convergence on the plan's contents.
However, some disagreements remain, especially regarding the timing and methods of implementing the planned measures. Israel fears that Arab countries, in their mediation efforts with Trump, have shifted the United States' focus toward a softer line, obscuring Israel's priority of "defeating Hamas once and for all."
Prime Minister Netanyahu, meanwhile, is preparing for an internal confrontation with members of his coalition, particularly with Economy Minister Bezalel Smotrich, leader of the ultranationalist wing, who continues to push for a hard line. According to Israeli sources themselves, Netanyahu will attempt to reassure his allies, reiterating that the situation is under control, although he currently has no definitive answers.
The entire process was apparently conceived as preparation for a possible direct meeting between Netanyahu and Donald Trump, which could take place in the coming weeks. This face-to-face meeting would also have significant political implications ahead of the 2024 US presidential elections, where the Middle East is expected to be a key issue in the Republican campaign.
