President Donald Trump is pressing for a Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal by the end of this week, dispatching envoy Steve Witkoff to Qatar to push stalled negotiations forward.
The proposed deal includes a 60-day ceasefire, phased hostage releases, and partial Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. However, the core disagreement remains: Hamas demands a permanent end to the war, while Israel insists on keeping the option to resume fighting.
Trump met with Prime Minister Netanyahu Monday night, with Gaza topping the agenda. Netanyahu remains firm on destroying Hamas, exiling its leaders, and disarming the group—key roadblocks to a final agreement.
Despite ongoing proximity talks in Doha, progress is slow. Mediators remain cautiously optimistic but acknowledge that bridging the final gaps—especially over the ceasefire’s permanence—remains a major challenge.
