Trump Seeks Gaza Ceasefire, Schedules Iran Talks

Amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, the **Trump** administration is pushing for a new ceasefire in Gaza, alongside confirming upcoming talks with Iran. The developments follow American strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities last month.

White House Dinner Diplomacy

President Trump hosted **Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu** at the White House for dinner, signaling a renewed diplomatic push. Meanwhile, ceasefire talks involving Israeli and Hamas representatives are expected to take place in Qatar over the coming days.

During a press conference at the White House dinner, **Netanyahu** announced he had nominated **Trump** for a Nobel Peace Prize, expressing optimism: “I think we can work out a peace between us and the entire Middle East with President Trump’s leadership.”

Ceasefire Proposal on the Table

After nearly two years of intense Israeli bombardment in Gaza, the **Trump** administration is proposing a 60-day ceasefire deal. According to Gazan health ministry officials, over 60,000 Palestinians have been killed in the conflict.

The proposed deal entails a phased hostage release and an Israeli troop withdrawal from parts of Gaza. Negotiations would run concurrently, aimed at establishing a permanent resolution to the conflict.

Stumbling Blocks Remain

**Netanyahu** has affirmed his commitment to continue Israel’s assault on Gaza until Hamas is dismantled and all hostages are freed. Conversely, Hamas insists on a guarantee that a ceasefire will lead to a permanent end to the war before releasing hostages. These opposing positions pose a significant challenge to the ceasefire talks.

Despite these obstacles, **Netanyahu** stated: “We will work out a peace with our Palestinian neighbours, those who don’t want to destroy us, and we’ll work out a peace in which our security, the sovereign power of security, always remains in our hands.”

US to Engage Iran in Talks

The US’s Middle East envoy, **Steve Witkoff**, is expected to participate in the Doha talks later in the week. **Witkoff** also indicated that discussions between the US and Iran are imminent, possibly within the next week.

Prior to last month’s strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, the US had been engaged in negotiations with Iran, exploring the possibility of easing economic sanctions in exchange for assurances that Iran would halt its nuclear program. In 2024, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute reported that despite international sanctions, Iran continued to expand its nuclear capabilities (SIPRI 2024).

**Trump** commented on the upcoming talks, stating: “But they’ve requested a meeting and I’m going to go to a meeting, and if we can put something down on paper, that would be fine.” He refrained from confirming the location of the talks.