U.S. President Donald Trump is set to host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House tomorrow for a high-stakes meeting where a potential ceasefire in Gaza will dominate the agenda. The meeting comes as Israel’s devastating military operation continues, with sources indicating that Trump aims to broker a deal that would not only halt the fighting but also reinforce his image as a peacemaker on the global stage.
According to analysis by prominent Turkish journalist and commentator Fehim Taştekin, the diplomatic push is layered with strategic objectives far beyond immediate humanitarian concerns. Taştekin argues that while the U.S. is Israel's primary military and political backer in the conflict—a role he describes as hypocritical given the "peace-man" posturing—the true motivation for a ceasefire is to revive and expand the Abraham Accords. He posits that a halt in the fighting is a necessary precondition to bring Saudi Arabia into the normalization agreement, a move that would solidify an "Abraham Shield" for Israel and serve as a cornerstone for American hegemony in the region to counter Chinese influence.
The proposed ceasefire deal, drafted by Qatar, Egypt, and the U.S. and reportedly approved by Israel before being sent to Hamas, outlines a temporary 60-day truce. The terms include a phased release of hostages and the remains of others in exchange for an unspecified number of Palestinian prisoners. The plan also involves a withdrawal of Israeli forces from northern and southern Gaza in stages and the start of negotiations for a permanent ceasefire, with the U.S. acting as a guarantor. However, Hamas has requested key changes, including an automatic continuation of talks beyond the initial 60 days and ensuring that all humanitarian aid is distributed by the United Nations, not through a U.S.-Israeli mechanism that Palestinians have called a "death trap."
The initiative faces significant internal opposition within Israel. Hardline ministers, including Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir, have vehemently opposed any cessation of hostilities, demanding the "genocidal operation" continue until Hamas is completely eradicated. This internal rift highlights the fragility of any potential agreement. Meanwhile, some Israeli military analysts, such as retired Major General Yitzhak Brik, have publicly stated that the current "scorched earth" strategy is failing and that Hamas has largely restored its fighting capacity to pre-war levels, operating effectively as a guerrilla force.
Further complicating the "day after" scenario is a competing Israeli proposal for the West Bank, championed by figures like Economy Minister Nir Barkat. This plan involves creating semi-autonomous "emirates" under Israeli sovereignty, a model critics have likened to the Bantustans of apartheid-era South Africa. Palestinian tribal leaders have reportedly rejected this model, further underscoring the deep chasm between Israeli objectives and Palestinian aspirations for a sovereign state. As Trump and Netanyahu prepare to meet, the world watches to see if a temporary pause can be achieved or if strategic ambitions and internal politics will prolong the conflict.