Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu Believes President Trump Can Help Gaza's Armistice Agreement

JAKARTA - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu believes his discussions with United States President Donald Trump on Monday will help advance talks on the release of hostages and a ceasefire deal in the Gaza Strip, Palestine.

"I believe discussions with President Trump can certainly help advance this result," he said, adding his determination to ensure the return of hostages detained in Gaza and to eliminate the threat of the Palestinian militant group Hamas against Israel.

This will be PM Netanyahu's third visit to the White House since President Trump returned to power nearly six months ago.

President Trump previously said he believed the release of hostages and a ceasefire agreement could be reached this week, leading to the release of "sufficiently many hostages."

"I think there is a good chance we will reach an agreement with Hamas this week," president Trump told reporters before flying back to Washington after playing golf in New Jersey over the weekend.

As previously reported, the first session of indirect ceasefire negotiations between Hamas and Israel in Qatar ended without results, two Palestinian sources familiar with the matter said on Monday morning, adding the Israeli delegation did not have sufficient mandate to reach an agreement with Hamas.

"After the first session of the indirect negotiations in Doha, the Israeli delegation was not authorized to reach an agreement with Hamas, because they (Israeli delegations) did not have real authority," the source said.

PM Netanyahu said prior to his departure to Washington, Israeli negotiators who took part in ceasefire talks had clear instructions to reach a ceasefire agreement based on Israeli terms.

PM Netanyahu's office said in a statement that Hamas' changes to the ceasefire proposal were "unacceptable by Israel".

His office confirmed the delegation would continue to fly to Qatar to "continue efforts to secure the return of our hostages based on the proposal of Qatar approved by Israel."

In Israel, public pressure has risen against PM Netanyahu to secure a permanent ceasefire and end the war in Gaza, a move opposed by several hardline members of his right-wing coalition. Others, including Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, have expressed support.

On Saturday evening, mobs gathered in a public square in Tel Aviv near the headquarters of Israel's Defense Ministry to call for a ceasefire and repatriation agreement of about 50 hostages still being held in Gaza. The demonstrators waved Israeli flags, shouted chants, and carried posters containing photos of the hostages.

Separately, Palestinian militant group Hamas said on Friday it had responded to a US-backed Gaza ceasefire proposal with a "positive spirit", days after Trump said Israel had approved "the necessary conditions to resolve" a 60-day ceasefire.

On the other hand, there are still potential challenges still facing both sides, a Palestinian official from a militant group allied with Hamas said concerns remain about humanitarian aid, travel through the Rafah crossing in southern Israel to Egypt and clarity on the schedule for the withdrawal of Israeli troops.

PM Netanyahu himself has repeatedly said Hamas must be stripped, demands that have so far been rejected for discussion by the militant group.

It is known that the latest conflict in Gaza broke out after a Palestinian militant group attacked Israel's southern region on October 7, 2023, leaving 1,200 people dead and 251 others held hostage according to Israeli calculations.

Israel responded to this by blocking, airstrikes and military operations in the Gaza Strip region.

Israel and the Palestinian militant group agreed to a ceasefire and exchange of hostages and detainees on January 19.

On March 2, Israel again carried out a total blockade against Gaza under the pretext of pressuring Palestinian militant groups to agree on a ceasefire proposed by the United States and a exchange of hostages.

As the ceasefire agreement ended, Israel resumed military operations in Gaza on March 18.

About 20 hostages remain are believed to be alive. The majority of the initial hostages have been released through diplomatic negotiations, although the Israeli military has also released several hostages.

As of yesterday, Palestinian deaths in the Gaza Strip since the latest conflict broke out have reached 57,418 and 136,261 others have been injured, according to a medical source in Gaza, quoted from WAFA.