Trump Urges Netanyahu to Embrace Gaza Ceasefire Deal

July 8—Sources report that President Donald Trump told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin "Bibi" Netanyahu in private talks at the White House that he believes Hamas is serious about ending the war in Gaza and returning all the hostages, and that he wants Israel to take the deal he believes will be finalized in talks in Doha later this week.

When Bibi interrupted to say that "issues still remain," sources close to the White House say that the President told Bibi, "They will be worked out. They are already being worked out and [Special Envoy] Steve [Witkoff] will go there and work out something fair. Don't bloc this, Bibi. I am telling you, don't bloc this." Netanyahu was stunned by "his buddy" Trump's firmness and nodded.

"Bibi may still try something," said a source. "He has many times in the past. But he knows that there will be a price to pay if he does. He won't be able to blame it on Hamas."

Ceasefire Talks in Motion as Trump Pushes for Closure

Haaretz said this morning that a top Israeli official told them that a deal is already 80 to 90% worked out. Sources close to the discussions say that if Bibi lets his negotiators do their job, a deal for a 60-day ceasefire/hostage release plan could be finalized as soon as the weekend, with Witkoff driving home the last miles of the deal. The Special Envoy should arrive on the scene by late Wednesday or Thursday.

Meanwhile, Bibi went out of his way to show appreciation for Trump's help in the recently concluded 12-day war with Iran and made a show of handing a letter he had sent to the appropriate authorities nominating Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize—something it is known that the President covets.

Immigration Proposal Stirs Controversy at Joint Appearance

They were also quite friendly when, in their only press appearance, Bibi gave his endorsement to plans that would allow the voluntary immigration of Gazans to other countries that might take them. While it sounds similar to the previous so-called Trump plan that was a non-starter—which called for the relocation of all or most Gazans out of their homeland—Netanyahu made clear that this would be a matter of free choice: they could choose to leave or they could stay. "We do not force anyone to leave Gaza," he said, as Trump nodded his approval.

"What bullshit," said a source who heard all this. "Bibi does not force Palestinians to leave Gaza. He forces them to leave the earth. He kills them."

Netanyahu: No Independent Palestine, But Broad Peace Is Possible

"President Trump had a brilliant vision. It's called free choice. If people want to stay, they can stay, but if they want to leave, they should be able to leave. It shouldn't be a prison. It should be an open place and give people a free choice," Netanyahu said, shortly after presenting Trump with his letter formally nominating the president for the Nobel Peace Prize.

"We're working with the United States very closely about finding countries that will seek to realize what they always say—that they want to give the Palestinians a better future. We're getting close to finding several countries, and this will give Palestinians the freedom to choose," Netanyahu added.

Trump claimed they were getting great cooperation on these matters with neighboring countries but failed to mention who he was referring to, as all such countries had flatly rejected accepting a large number of Gazans in the first incarnation of this scheme months ago.

Returning to the ceasefire/hostage deal, Trump stated Hamas wants a deal, while Witkoff added, "We have an opportunity to finally get a peace deal, Mr. Prime Minister, as we discussed, and I'm hopeful for it very quickly."

When asked if he supports, ultimately, a two-state solution that would create an independent Palestinian state—a position that has been U.S. policy for half a century—Trump deflected to Bibi rather than answer the question himself.

Netanyahu, who has never supported the creation of a fully independent Palestine, said, "Palestinians should have all the powers to govern themselves but none of the powers to threaten us. That means a certain power like overall security remains in our hands. Now that is a fact. No one in Israel will agree to anything else, because we don't commit suicide."

"We want life cherished—life for ourselves, for our neighbors—and I think we can work out a peace between us and the entire Middle East with President Trump's leadership together. I think we can establish a very broad peace that will include all our neighbors," Netanyahu added.

Humanitarian Aid and Hamas’ Future Role Remain Key Sticking Points

Meanwhile, sources close to the discussions in Doha say the main sticking point centers around the question of who will be allowed to distribute humanitarian aid once the ceasefire takes hold. Netanyahu would like to see this kicked down the road and discussed during the ceasefire. Hamas wants to end the distribution by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a U.S. and Israeli-backed franchise accused of supervising the murder of more than 500 starving people at its sites—shot by security guards and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF)—and more than 2,000 wounded. Hamas wants massive aid to freely enter Gaza and be distributed by the more reputable United Nations and Red Crescent operations, which Israel claims have given food to Hamas to sell and hand out.

Another issue is what, if any, will be the role of Hamas in post-war Gaza. Israel and the U.S. have said it should have zero role, either as an organization or via individuals, even if its military wing is disbanded. Israel has asked that its leaders voluntarily exit Gaza. One possible compromise would be to allow former Hamas members to serve as a "watchdog" group that would monitor the activities of the new government and make suggestions. This issue, sources say, is not likely to be resolved now but in negotiations during the ceasefire.

These sources report that Hamas is going to accept the assurances from Trump and Witkoff that they will ensure Bibi does not restart his war to slaughter Palestinians after the 60-day ceasefire ends. It is important that Hamas, these sources say, recognize that Trump and Bibi have different interests in this and that the President wants to permanently end the war and the killing—and wants the hostages that are still alive returned alive.