U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened at the White House this week to address escalating tensions in Gaza, focusing on securing the release of hostages held by Hamas. The meeting coincided with coordinated efforts by France, Egypt, and Jordan to broker an immediate ceasefire and advocate for Palestinian Authority-led governance in the conflict-ridden territory.
The discussions followed Israel's resumption of air and ground operations in Gaza on March 18, abruptly ending a fragile two-month truce. Israel accused Hamas of violating the ceasefire by refusing to release hostages, while Hamas condemned the military escalation as a breach of earlier agreements.
During a rare media briefing in the Oval Office, Trump described hostage recovery as a "top priority," stating, "We're making progress. I believe we'll see all the hostages home soon." Netanyahu reaffirmed Israel’s focus on the hostages’ safe return but shared no concrete timelines.
The trilateral call from France, Egypt, and Jordan underscored growing international pressure to stabilize Gaza. The nations jointly emphasized that lasting peace requires empowering the Palestinian Authority as Gaza’s administrative body—a position still resisted by Hamas.
While the White House canceled a planned press conference, officials confirmed ongoing negotiations to reduce regional violence. Notably absent from talks were detailed proposals for Gaza’s post-conflict reconstruction, a topic that remains contentious within global diplomatic circles.
