WASHINGTON, United States — In a significant development, US President Donald Trump hinted at a potential breakthrough in the Middle East crisis on Sunday, just ahead of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s scheduled visit to the White House. Trump expressed optimism in a post on his Truth Social platform, stating, “We have a real chance for GREATNESS IN THE MIDDLE EAST. ALL ARE ON BOARD FOR SOMETHING SPECIAL, FIRST TIME EVER. WE WILL GET IT DONE!!!”
Earlier on Friday, Trump had suggested to reporters in Washington that a deal on Gaza was imminent. “I think we have a deal,” he said. “A deal that will secure the release of hostages and bring an end to the war.”
Netanyahu’s meeting with Trump on Monday follows the US president’s recent unveiling of a 21-point plan aimed at resolving the conflict in the Palestinian territory. This plan was discussed during talks with Arab and Muslim leaders on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. The timing of the meeting is critical, as Israel faces increasing international isolation, with countries like Britain, France, Canada, and Australia officially recognizing Palestinian statehood, diverging from the long-standing US-led diplomatic stance.
According to a diplomatic source, Trump’s plan includes a permanent ceasefire, the release of hostages, an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, and a substantial influx of humanitarian aid. Netanyahu, speaking on Fox News on Sunday, emphasized the urgency of the situation. “We want to free our hostages, dismantle Hamas rule, demilitarize Gaza, and establish a new future for both Gazans and Israelis, as well as the entire region,” he said.
While Arab and Muslim leaders have welcomed the proposal, they have also called for an immediate cessation of Israel’s military operations and any occupation of Gaza. One of the most contentious aspects of the plan is the proposed involvement of the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority in the future governance of Gaza. Netanyahu expressed skepticism about this, stating, “I don’t think it’s going to happen.”
Addressing the United Nations on Friday, Netanyahu reiterated his commitment to blocking the establishment of a Palestinian state while vowing to “finish the job” against Hamas. The conflict escalated following Hamas’s unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, mostly civilians, and the abduction of 251 hostages, 47 of whom remain in Gaza, including 25 declared dead by the Israeli military. Israel’s retaliatory offensive in Gaza has reportedly claimed the lives of at least 66,005 people, predominantly civilians, according to figures from the Hamas-run health ministry, which the United Nations considers reliable.