"The Gaza situation is truly tragic—we want to resolve it," says President Donald Trump in second Gaza ceasefire meeting

"The Gaza situation is truly tragic—we want to resolve it," says President Donald Trump in second Gaza ceasefire meeting
[Washington | July 9, 2025]

President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met for a second consecutive day in a secret meeting at the White House, where the ongoing Gaza crisis and a potential ceasefire were the main topics of discussion.

This unscheduled meeting, which lasted for about an hour on Tuesday evening, was closed to the press. The night before, on Monday, the two leaders had also dined together at the White House. This marks Netanyahu’s third visit to the United States since Trump began his second term in January.

Trump stated, “We have to solve Gaza. It’s a tragic situation. Both Netanyahu and I are interested in a resolution, and I believe the other side wants that too.”

Confidential Talks and Crisis of Optimism

Al Jazeera’s Washington correspondent Mike Hanna reported that the meeting was so secretive that no detailed information was made public. He suggested that despite the leaders' optimistic tone, significant complications remain.

Hope for a Ceasefire

Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, revealed that Israel and Hamas are very close to finalizing a 60-day ceasefire agreement. Under the proposed deal, 10 living hostages would be released, and 9 bodies would be returned. Out of the four major sticking points, only one remains unresolved—redeployment of Israeli forces.

Netanyahu’s Firm Stance and Conflicting Message

Soon after the meeting, Netanyahu told the U.S. Speaker of the House, “Our work in Gaza is not yet finished. All hostages must be freed, and Hamas’s military and governing infrastructure must be destroyed.”

Displacement Plans and International Concern

From Jordan, Al Jazeera correspondent Nour Odeh reported that Israel is planning to establish a tent city in Rafah to concentrate nearly 600,000 Palestinians—potentially the first step toward mass displacement from the Gaza Strip. A broader plan appears to be in place to expel all 2.1 million residents from Gaza.

Anel Shlein, a researcher at the Quincy Institute, stated, “These tent cities are effectively concentration camps. This is a path to ethnic cleansing and a crime against humanity. Trump is surrounded by people who rarely oppose him.”

Trump-Netanyahu Relationship

Trump has criticized the Israeli judiciary over Netanyahu's corruption trials, effectively interfering in Israel’s internal politics. Netanyahu, in turn, praised Trump, nominated him for the Nobel Peace Prize, and said, “There has never been such close Israel-U.S. cooperation in history.”

Gaza’s Humanitarian Catastrophe

Israeli aggression has killed at least 57,575 Palestinians and injured 136,879, according to reports. The United Nations estimates that nearly 500,000 people are at risk of famine, and most of Gaza’s population has been displaced.

On the other hand, Hamas's October 7, 2023, attack killed 1,139 people in Israel and abducted over 200, around 50 of whom are still being held hostage in Gaza.