Trump has largely focused on expanding the Abraham Accords, an agreement in his first term that led to normalization of relations between Israel and some Arab nations. He's also proposed a relocation plan for Gaza's two million Palestinians, which Netanyahu endorsed at the time.

The Executive Committee of the Middle East Council of Churches concluded a regular meeting in Beirut on Thursday with a call for ending the Israeli aggression against the Gaza Strip and condemnation of attacks on Palestinians by Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank.

Of the remaining hurdles to achieving a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, the most difficult to overcome may be the militants’ demand for a guaranteed end to the war.

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Netanyahu said his meeting with Trump focused on freeing hostages in Gaza, and stressed his determination to "eliminate" the capabilities of Hamas.

Hamas accepted the framework of a new 60-day cease-fire and hostage-release proposal that, if concluded, would trigger U.S.-backed talks with Israel aimed at a permanent end to the war, Arab officials involved in the talks said.

The two confronted an array of high-stakes Middle East issues. But first they took a victory lap, including the Israeli leader telling President Trump he had nominated him for a Nobel Peace Prize.

Israel agrees to Trump-led 60-day ceasefire proposal for Gaza, aiming to end the war and secure a hostage deal, with Qatar and Egypt delivering the final proposal to Hamas.

The U.S. President said Israel “agreed to the necessary conditions to finalize” a 60-day ceasefire, “during which time we will work with all parties to end the war.”

E arlier this week hopes for an imminent end to the war in Gaza were at their highest in months. As Binyamin Netanyahu, Israel’s prime minister, touched down in Washington on July 7th, talks to finalise a ceasefire agreement had already begun 11,

A Gaza ceasefire deal could open the door to a much broader peace agreement. The “day after” in the tragic war in Gaza might finally be approaching, as Israel, the United States and key Arab states discuss terms for what officials hope could be a lasting truce.