 "US President Donald Trump. Reuters")
Israel and the US are reportedly very close to reaching an agreement on President Donald Trump’s proposed plan to end the war in Gaza. The news comes from a reporter from the American news website, Axios, who posted on X on Sunday, citing a senior US official.
The breakthrough follows discussions between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US officials, including special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner.
Reporter Barak Ravid’s post indicated that the official stressed the plan cannot proceed without the consent of Hamas.
Earlier on Sunday, Trump expressed his hope of finalising a Gaza peace proposal during his Monday meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu.
‘All on board for something special’
Netanyahu is set to hold an important meeting with Trump at the White House on Monday—their fourth meeting since Trump took office. This comes after the US president presented his 21-point plan to end the Israel-Hamas war to other regional leaders in New York last week.
“We have a real chance for greatness in the Middle East,” Trump said on his Truth Social account on Sunday. “All are on board for something special, first time ever. We will get it done.”
Impact Shorts
More ShortsReports from The Washington Post and The Times of Israel have shed light on the key elements of the proposed peace plan. Under the proposal, Hamas would release all 48 hostages (both living and dead) within 48 hours. In return, Israel would halt military operations and gradually withdraw its troops. Israel would also agree to release Palestinian prisoners and permit a substantial increase in humanitarian aid into Gaza.
For its part, Hamas would disarm and be removed from governing the Palestinian territory. This would be followed by the establishment of a transitional administration and a plan to deradicalise local schools and mosques.
However, the details remain uncertain, as Israeli officials have refused to confirm or deny the report’s points.
Context of ongoing war
These peace talks are unfolding as Israel escalates its offensive on Gaza City, the territory’s effective capital, with the goal of destroying Hamas’s remaining military strongholds.
The Israeli military has already caused the displacement of 700,000 of the city’s 1 million residents, destroying high-rise buildings (which Israel claims housed Hamas equipment) and tunnels used by Hamas fighters.
The war, which will be two years old next week, has led to a significant humanitarian crisis. According to the Hamas-run health ministry, approximately 66,000 Palestinians have been killed. The population has been repeatedly displaced and is facing dire living and health conditions, alongside a critical food shortage, with a UN-backed body declaring a famine in parts of the strip a month ago.