TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — On Sunday, U.S. President Donald Trump called for progress in ceasefire discussions regarding the ongoing 20-month war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas. However, many weary Palestinians expressed skepticism about the potential for a resolution. Concurrently, Israel announced a new mass evacuation order for parts of northern Gaza.
Ron Dermer, a prominent adviser to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is scheduled to travel to Washington this week to discuss a possible ceasefire. An Israeli official indicated that there are plans for Netanyahu to visit the U.S. in the coming weeks, suggesting that there might be some movement towards an agreement.
On social media, Trump urged the parties to “MAKE THE DEAL IN GAZA. GET THE HOSTAGES BACK!!!” raising hopes when he mentioned on Friday that a deal could potentially be reached within the week.
Many Palestinians, however, are doubtful about these recent efforts. As stated by Abdel Hadi Al-Hour, a Palestinian resident, past promises of ceasefires contingent on hostage releases have not materialized. “They did not stop the war,” he lamented.
Israeli military actions are ongoing, with an airstrike on a house in the Jabaliya al-Nazla area of Gaza killing at least 15 people, many of whom were women and children. The Israeli military did not comment on this specific strike, although the area has been included in the latest evacuation order.
During a visit to Israel's internal security service, Shin Bet, Netanyahu discussed the implications of the ongoing conflict with Iran and the potential to secure hostages while also aiming to defeat Hamas. He expressed optimism about achieving both objectives.
Despite the hopeful rhetoric, negotiations between Israel and Hamas have been stymied by a significant sticking point: the terms under which the conflict would end. Hamas official Mahmoud Merdawi accused Netanyahu of delaying progress by insisting on a temporary agreement that would see only 10 hostages released. Currently, about 50 hostages remain in captivity, with fewer than half believed to still be alive.
Netanyahu’s spokesperson asserted that “Hamas was the only obstacle to ending the war,” but did not address Merdawi's claims. Hamas has stated it is willing to release all hostages in exchange for a complete withdrawal of Israeli troops and an end to the war, an offer that Israel has rejected, demanding Hamas’ surrender and disarmament instead.
The ongoing conflict began with a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in 1,200 fatalities and the abduction of approximately 250 people. The Gaza Health Ministry reported that at least 88 additional Palestinians were killed in the past 24 hours due to Israeli fire, bringing the total death toll among Palestinians to 56,500, predominantly women and children according to their count.
The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire, with most of its population displaced multiple times and heavily reliant on outside aid. Following the end of a ceasefire earlier this year, Israel has restricted access to aid. Fewer than half of Gaza's hospitals are operational, and over 4,000 children require medical evacuation, as noted in a recent U.N. humanitarian assessment.
“We are exhausted, we are tired. We hope to God that the war will end,” expressed Mahmoud Wadi, a Palestinian resident.
The Israeli military has issued a mass evacuation order for several neighborhoods in northern Gaza, urging displaced residents, many of whom had just returned during a prior ceasefire, to relocate again. The evacuation includes areas of Gaza City and the Jabaliya refugee camp as military operations expand westward.
Trump has also criticized Netanyahu’s ongoing corruption trial, labeling it a “POLITICAL WITCH HUNT” and suggesting that the trial negatively impacts ceasefire negotiations. Recently, he advocated for delaying the trial, creating a ripple effect in Israel’s political spheres, though Trump maintains popularity within the country.
Netanyahu's trial has faced multiple postponements at his request to accommodate various diplomatic and security developments, with the court recently agreeing to cancel two days of scheduled testimony.
