White House: Israel, Hamas ‘Very Close’ to Gaza Deal  

The White House expressed cautious optimism Monday that Israel and Hamas are on the verge of a framework deal to end the nearly two-year Gaza war, as President Donald Trump prepares to host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for high-stakes talks.

According to Axios, Trump will speak by phone with Qatari Emir Tamim Al Thani before hosting Netanyahu today, amid Arab concerns that Trump is altering his Gaza proposal to meet Israeli demands.

The Prime Minister’s Office confirmed Netanyahu’s itinerary: “The prime minister and his entourage have just departed for Washington. He will meet President Trump at the White House at 11:00 a.m. [EDT]. Both leaders are expected to deliver statements to the media at 1:15 p.m.”

The meeting centers on a U.S.-brokered 21-point peace plan aimed at securing the release of remaining hostages (both deceased and living), halting hostilities, and charting a postwar path for the devastated enclave.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, speaking on Fox News' Fox & Friends, described the negotiations as "very close."

Leavitt emphasized Trump’s hands-on role since taking office, noting, “The president and his team have worked very hard on this issue. The administration has engaged in direct and indirect talks with Hamas, and President Trump has been in constant contact with our friend and ally, Benjamin Netanyahu.” She added that Trump will speak with Qatari mediators immediately after the Netanyahu summit to push negotiations forward.

"To reach a reasonable deal for both sides, both sides have to give up a little bit and might leave the table a little bit unhappy, but that is ultimately how we are going to end this conflict," Leavitt said. She highlighted Trump's expectation that both parties endorse the plan, drafted by special envoy Steve Witkoff, Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, and input from former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who is being considered for a postwar oversight role in Gaza.

The summit comes amid intensifying pressure on Israel. Netanyahu's recent UN General Assembly speech drew walkouts from dozens of delegates, including from the U.S., as he rejected Palestinian statehood recognitions by countries like Britain, France, Canada, and Australia, likening them to "giving Al Qaeda a state one mile from New York after 9/11." Netanyahu vowed to "finish the job" in Gaza, targeting Hamas remnants in Gaza City, where an estimated 20 living hostages are believed held.

Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid offered Netanyahu political cover for a deal, stating he has a "safety net" in the Knesset despite far-right resistance from figures like Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who demands no Qatari involvement and voluntary Palestinian emigration via Egypt.

The 21-Point Plan: Key Details and Sticking Points

Leaked outlines of the proposal, first detailed by Axios and CNN, outline a phased approach:

Hostage Release: All remaining hostages (about 20 alive, plus bodies of 28 others) freed within 48 hours of agreement, in exchange for phased Israeli troop withdrawals and an unspecified number of Palestinian prisoners.

Ceasefire and Security: Immediate halt to fighting, with an Arab-Muslim international force securing Gaza under a trusteeship linked to the Palestinian Authority (PA). No Israeli annexation of Gaza or the West Bank, and a commitment against future strikes on Qatar.

Postwar Governance: International oversight for reconstruction, excluding Hamas rule, with PA reforms paving a "credible path" to Palestinian statehood. No forced displacement of Gaza's 2.3 million residents.

Broader Regional Ties: Resumption of Abraham Accords-style normalization, potentially including Saudi Arabia, tied to ending the war.

Trump, in a weekend Axios interview, called it the "final stages" for "real peace in the Middle East," but Netanyahu has voiced reservations, reiterating his "red line" against PA involvement in Gaza during a Sunday Fox News appearance. Israeli officials told CNN that Netanyahu plans to push modifications, viewing the plan as too concessionary.

The war, ignited by Hamas's October 7, 2023, attack killing 1,200 Israelis and taking 251 hostages, has defied multiple ceasefires. Previous U.S. efforts collapsed over gaps on troop pullouts and governance. Trump's administration, resuming $3.8 billion in annual aid, has hardened its stance post a September 9 Israeli airstrike on Hamas leaders in Doha, which "very heated" Trump, per sources. Vice President JD Vance described the talks as a "complicated negotiation" among Arab leaders, Israel, and Washington, warning of last-minute derailments.

As the leaders convene, families of the captives held a rally in New York’s Central Park on Sunday, voicing fury at Netanyahu for prolonging the war for political gain. "There is a majority for this in the Knesset and the country," Lapid posted on X, countering threats from Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. The assault on Gaza City, believed to house hostages, has only heightened tensions.

Unresolved issues, particularly around Gaza’s demilitarization and Palestinian Authority (PA) involvement, continue to cloud prospects, with Hamas already pushing to soften key terms. Hamas has demanded rephrasing the demilitarization clause to “laying down arms,” a change Israeli officials view as gutting the provision’s intent.

In Israel, ambiguity persists over details of Trump’s plan, especially regarding PA governance in postwar Gaza and Hamas’s disarmament. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has set "red lines," rejecting any deal involving Qatari mediation or PA control.

Interestingly, the White House has just confirmed that the joint statements by President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, following their critical meeting today, will take place in the White House Ballroom. This venue is traditionally used for historic announcements. We could well be looking at the beginning of the end of gteh Israel-Hamas war.