After nearly two years of brutal conflict, a glimmer of hope is emerging for a new ceasefire deal in Gaza.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu touched down in Washington on Monday, July 7, 2025, to meet U.S. President Donald Trump, both expressing cautious optimism that a breakthrough may be imminent.
Trump told reporters he’s been “very firm” with Netanyahu and expects a deal “this week”
Netanyahu echoed that sentiment before departing, saying their talks “can definitely help advance” a mutual goal: ending hostilities under agreed-upon conditions
Underlying these talks are resumed indirect negotiations in Doha.
Sponsored by the U.S. and held under the auspices of Qatar and Egypt, these discussions focus on a proposed 60-day ceasefire that would include phased hostage releases and Israeli troop withdrawals
The proposal envisions Hamas releasing 10 living hostages and the remains of 18 others over a 60-day period, similar to earlier phases.
In return, Israel would free several hundred Palestinian detainees and allow a surge in humanitarian aid managed by U.N. bodies and the Palestinian Red Crescent
The plan includes staged Israeli withdrawals from northern and southern Gaza, plus a Trump-backed guarantee ensuring temporary calm while permanent peace talks begin
On-the-ground stakes are heartbreaking.
Gaza civilians are exhausted after daily bombardments.
Many face acute shortages in food, water, fuel, and medicine, some children show signs of malnutrition, and hospitals are teetering on collapse due to zero fuel deliveries in months .
Hostage families are desperate.
Nearly 50 hostages remain held by Hamas; around 20 are believed to be alive .
Family members in Israel held large rallies urging the government to seal a deal.
“This is the moment to sign a comprehensive agreement that will lead to the release of all the hostages, every single one, without exception,” implored Ilay David, whose brother was filmed under torture in captivity
Yet, sticking points remain.
Hamas insists on a permanent ceasefire and full Israeli pullout, conditions Israel has flatly rejected.
Israel, backed by the U.S., supports a temporary pause while insisting Hamas be disarmed .
Hamas has expressed a “positive spirit” toward the U.S. proposal.
However, it is still seeking firm commitments on aid management.
These include transferring responsibility from the Israeli-American-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation to UN agencies.
It also includes clarifications on troop withdrawal timelines and Gaza border crossings
Israel, meanwhile, rejects these modifications as “not acceptable”
Political advantage is shifting.
Netanyahu arrives in D.C. buoyed by recent military operations against Iran, strengthening his domestic support and potentially offsetting his far-right coalition’s resistance to any deal .
Analysts say Israel now has more leverage to accept concessions.
Meanwhile, Hamas’s Iranian patron has been weakened by regional setbacks, possibly softening its posture
For Trump, a ceasefire would free him to pivot toward other Middle East priorities: border talks with Syria, Israel-Saudi normalization, and reviving negotiations with Iran
The window is narrow.
Netanyahu’s political coalition includes hardliners demanding the war continue until Gaza is fully demilitarized.
Some are even threatening to quit if a permanent ceasefire is agreed.
On the Palestinian side, Gaza is deploying cautious optimism, with some fearing this could be a temporary stall rather than a real end
The days ahead are pivotal.
Israel’s military leadership says its objectives are almost met, but warns the country must choose between hostage recovery or pushing deeper into Gaza under renewed military rule.
With an estimated two-thirds of Israelis supporting a ceasefire to bring home hostages but wary about long-term security, pressure is mounting
In Gaza, humanitarian conditions, compounded by decimated infrastructure and dwindling national reserves, cannot endure another month.
The first step in any accord is survival.
Beyond that lies the arduous task of rebuilding both Palestinian lives and a durable peace – a challenge neither side underestimates.