Washington, July 9, 2025 – U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met for the second time in two days to advance negotiations for a Gaza ceasefire, amid ongoing violence that has claimed over 57,000 Palestinian lives since October 2023.
The closed-door meeting, held Tuesday evening at the White House, focused on a proposed 60-day truce aimed at halting Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, securing the release of hostages, and increasing humanitarian aid. Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, expressed optimism, noting that only one major issue remains unresolved between Israel and Hamas, down from four. Witkoff highlighted the potential release of 10 living hostages and the remains of nine deceased captives as part of the deal.
Netanyahu, speaking after a meeting with House Speaker Mike Johnson, emphasized Israel’s goals of freeing all hostages, dismantling Hamas’s military and governance structures, and ensuring Gaza poses no future threat. Despite progress in talks, he indicated that Israel’s military operations are ongoing. Qatar, a key mediator, hosted indirect negotiations between Israeli and Hamas delegations, though a Qatari official cautioned that more time is needed to finalize an agreement.
The urgency of the talks comes as Gaza’s Health Ministry reported 105 Palestinians killed and 530 injured in Israeli attacks over the past 24 hours, including seven aid seekers killed and 57 injured. Since October 2023, the conflict has resulted in 57,680 deaths and 137,409 injuries, with thousands missing and presumed dead. The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes, while Israel faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice.
In a related development, Israel claimed to have killed Hussein Ali Muzhir, a senior Hezbollah figure, in a strike near Beirut, accusing him of orchestrating attacks and violating Israel-Lebanon agreements. The strike underscores the broader regional tensions complicating ceasefire efforts.
Trump’s push for a deal follows his administration’s strong support for Israel, including joint military actions against Iran. However, domestic and international pressure is mounting to end the 21-month conflict, which has caused widespread destruction and deepened Israel’s global isolation
