Washington DC: United States President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met at the White House on Monday to discuss ongoing ceasefire negotiations related to the 21-month war in Gaza.

The leaders addressed reporters briefly before their dinner meeting, during which Trump expressed optimism about the prospects for a truce between Israel and Hamas.

"I think things are going along very well," Trump said, adding that Hamas "wants to meet and they want to have that ceasefire." The meeting took place as indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas continued in Doha, Qatar. While no breakthrough was reached in the first two sessions of talks, a third session is expected later this week.

According to the current proposal, Hamas would release 10 living hostages and the bodies of 18 others in exchange for a phased withdrawal of Israeli troops from parts of Gaza and the release of an unspecified number of Palestinian prisoners. The ceasefire would last 60 days, with further extensions to be negotiated.

When asked about possible obstacles to the deal, Trump said he was not aware of any major hold-ups. However, Hamas has demanded a written guarantee that the truce would be extended beyond 60 days if negotiations continue. US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee declined to confirm whether such a commitment would be made. “I simply don’t know,” he said.

Trump also addressed the broader regional implications of the conflict. He suggested that several neighbouring countries had expressed willingness to cooperate on plans involving the relocation of Palestinians from Gaza. Netanyahu, in his remarks, said that if Palestinians wanted to leave Gaza, they should be allowed to do so. “If people want to stay, they can stay, but if they want to leave, they should be able to leave,” he said. Palestinian officials have rejected such relocation plans, stating they would violate international law, particularly the Fourth Geneva Convention.

During the same meeting, Netanyahu presented Trump with a letter nominating him for the Nobel Peace Prize. The Israeli Prime Minister said, “He’s forging peace, as we speak, in one country in the region after another.” Trump has previously expressed interest in receiving the prize.

The meeting also addressed broader security issues in the Middle East, including recent US airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites. Trump likened the strikes to President Harry Truman’s use of atomic bombs during World War II, stating, “That stopped a lot of fighting, and this stopped a lot of fighting.” The June 2025 airstrikes targeted three Iranian nuclear facilities, following rising tensions between Israel and Iran. US intelligence agencies have not confirmed the complete destruction of the facilities and have cautioned about the risk of further escalation.

Netanyahu’s visit to the White House came under scrutiny due to an outstanding arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in November 2024. The warrant accuses Netanyahu, former Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas commander Mohammed Deif of war crimes and crimes against humanity in connection with the Gaza conflict. Netanyahu has rejected the allegations, calling the warrant antisemitic. In response, the Trump administration imposed sanctions on four ICC judges involved in the case.

Despite the closed-door nature of parts of the visit, the event attracted significant public attention. Protesters gathered outside the White House gates, waving Palestinian flags and demanding Netanyahu’s arrest. There were no reported incidents of violence during the protest.

Netanyahu also held meetings with US Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, who is expected to join the Doha negotiations later this week. This is Netanyahu’s third visit to Washington since Trump began his second term in office.

The conflict in Gaza, which began in October 2023, has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and displaced over 1.9 million people, according to United Nations agencies. Israel currently controls roughly two-thirds of the Gaza Strip. Humanitarian access remains restricted, and disputes over aid delivery mechanisms continue to complicate ceasefire negotiations.

The White House has stated that Trump’s top priority in the region is to end the war in Gaza and ensure the return of all hostages. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said, “There was a ceasefire proposal that Israel supports that was sent to Hamas, and we hope that they will agree to this proposal. We want to see all of the hostages released.”

Witkoff is expected to engage further with Egyptian and Qatari officials in Doha to attempt to finalise an agreement. The outcome of this week’s negotiations could determine whether the conflict edges toward a prolonged pause or continues into its 22nd month.